Toner container having protrusions projecting from opposite sides of the toner container

ABSTRACT

A system with a container including a protrusion, and a receiver to receive the container. The receiver includes a slide block that is movable relative to a body of the receiver, the slide block including two surfaces, a first surface, initially contacted by the protrusion of the container during insertion of the container into the receiver, having a first slope to resist movement of the container towards the receiver, and a second surface, subsequently contacted by the protrusion of the container during the insertion of the container into the receiver, having a second slope to interact with the protrusion of the container to assist movement of the container towards the receiver. This construction provides the user with a changing insertion force to indicate proper mounting of the container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.16/048,931, filed Jul. 30, 2018, which is a divisional of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/709,145, filed Sep. 19, 2017 (now U.S. Pat. No.10,054,873), which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.15/379,985, filed Dec. 15, 2016 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,778,596), which isa divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/075,810, filed Mar. 21,2016 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,541,862), which is a divisional of U.S.application Ser. No. 14/807,288, filed Jul. 23, 2015 (now U.S. Pat. No.9,329,529), which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.14/522,217, filed Oct. 23, 2014 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,128,415), which isa divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/434,096, filed on Mar. 29,2012 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,929,779), which is a continuation of PCTApplication No. PCT/JP2011/056129, filed on Mar. 9, 2011, and claims thebenefit of priority of Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2010-052607,filed Mar. 10, 2010, 2010-052640, filed Mar. 10, 2010, 2010-052751,filed Mar. 10, 2010, 2010-134313, filed Jun. 11, 2010, 2010-134320,filed Jun. 11, 2010, 2010-134332, filed Jun. 11, 2010, 2011-010008,filed Jan. 20, 2011, 2011-010106, filed Jan. 20, 2011, and 2011-010172,filed Jan. 20, 2011, the entire contents of each of which areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a toner container disposed in an imageforming device, such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile or amulti-function peripheral, and relates to an image forming device inwhich a toner container is arranged in a body of the image formingdevice.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention include a system with a container includinga protrusion, and a receiver to receive the container. The receiverincludes a slide block that is movable relative to a body of thereceiver, the slide block including two surfaces, a first surface,initially contacted by the protrusion of the container during insertionof the container into the receiver, having a first slope to resistmovement of the container towards the receiver, and a second surface,subsequently contacted by the protrusion of the container during theinsertion of the container into the receiver, having a second slope tointeract with the protrusion of the container to assist movement of thecontainer towards the receiver.

According to another embodiment, there is a toner container for use withan image forming system. The toner container includes a body to holdtoner, and a cap. The cap includes an outlet, and protrusions disposedsymmetrically on the cap, the protrusions configured to interact withcorresponding slide blocks of a receiver of an image forming device, theslide blocks each including two surfaces, a first surface, initiallycontacted by the protrusions of the cap during insertion of the tonercontainer into the receiver, having a first slope to resist movement ofthe toner container towards the receiver, and a second surface,subsequently contacted by the protrusions of the toner container duringthe insertion of the toner container into the receiver, having a secondslope to interact with the protrusions of the cap to assist movement ofthe container towards the receiver.

According to yet another embodiment, there is a container including aprotrusion, and a receiver to receive the container. The receiverincludes means for sliding, movable relative to a body of the receiver,the means for sliding interacting with the protrusion of the container,the means for sliding initially resisting insertion of the containerinto the receiver, and subsequently assisting insertion of the containerinto the receiver.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the composition of an image forming deviceof the embodiment 1 of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the composition of an imaging part in theimage forming device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the state in which a toner container isinstalled in a toner replenishing device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the state in which toner containers areinstalled in a toner container accommodating part.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a toner container of the present disclosurewhen viewed from a slanting upper portion.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the toner container of the presentdisclosure when viewed from a slanting lower portion.

FIGS. 7A-7F are diagrams showing the outline of the toner container.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the front of the toner container when viewedfrom the cap part side.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a part of the toner container.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the head part of the container main part ofthe toner container.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the cap part of the toner container.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the cap part of the toner container.

FIG. 13 is a cut-away view showing the cap part of the toner container.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the neighborhood of the cap part of thetoner container.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the state in which a toner outlet is closedby a shutter member of the toner container.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the state in which the toner outlet isopened by the shutter member of the toner container.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the inside of the cap part in the state ofFIG. 16.

FIGS. 18A-18C are diagrams for explaining the opening operation of theshutter member which is interlocked with the attaching operation of thetoner container to the toner container accommodating part.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the cap part when the shutter member istaken out.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the cap part when the shutter member istaken out.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the state in which the sealing material istaken out from the cap part of FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the state in which the sealing material istaken out from the cap part of FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the rear of the cap part when viewed fromthe side of the container main part.

FIG. 24A and FIG. 24B are diagrams showing metallic molds which are usedto perform the injection molding of the cap part.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a shutter member.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a shutter member.

FIGS. 27A-27C are diagrams showing the toner containers of differentkinds when viewed from the cap part side.

FIGS. 28A-28E are diagrams showing a toner container of anotherembodiment when viewed from the cap part side.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a portion of the toner containeraccommodating part in the neighborhood of the container receiving part.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a portion of the toner containeraccommodating part in the neighborhood of the container receiving part.

FIG. 31 is an exploded diagram showing a part of the toner containeraccommodating part.

FIG. 32 is an exploded diagram showing a container receiving part of thetoner container accommodating part.

FIG. 33 is an exploded diagram showing the container receiving part ofthe toner container accommodating part.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing the state in which the cap part of thetoner container is attached to the cap receiving part of the tonercontainer accommodating part.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing the state following the state of FIG. 34.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing the state following the state of FIG. 35.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing the state in which the pressing part of thetoner container is engaged with the pressing part of the toner containeraccommodating part and attached to the cap receiving part.

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing the state following the state of FIG. 37.

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing the state following the state of FIG. 38.

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing the state in which the cap part of thetoner container is attached to the cap receiving part of the tonercontainer accommodating part.

FIG. 41 is a diagram showing the state following the state of FIG. 40.

FIG. 42 is a diagram showing the state following the state of FIG. 41.

FIG. 43 is a diagram showing the state in which the shutter member ofthe toner container is engaged with the shutter pinching mechanism ofthe toner container accommodating part and opens the toner outlet.

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing the state following the state of FIG. 43.

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing the state following the state of FIG. 44.

FIG. 46 is a diagram showing the state in which the cap part of thetoner container is attached to the cap receiving part of the tonercontainer accommodating part.

FIG. 47 is a diagram showing a part of a toner container in theembodiment 2 of the present disclosure.

FIG. 48 is an exploded diagram showing the cap part in the tonercontainer of FIG. 47.

FIG. 49 is an exploded diagram showing the cap part in the tonercontainer of FIG. 47.

FIG. 50 is a diagram showing the cap part after welding of the firstmember and the second member is performed.

FIG. 51 is a diagram showing the inside of the cap part in the tonercontainer of FIG. 47.

FIG. 52 is a diagram showing the stirring member of the toner containerin the embodiment 3 of the present disclosure.

FIG. 53 is a diagram showing the stirring member of FIG. 52.

FIGS. 54A-54C are diagrams showing the stirring member of FIG. 52.

FIG. 55A is a diagram for explaining the state in which the stirringmember of FIG. 52 is rotated, and FIG. 55B is a diagram for explainingthe state in which the stirring member in the toner container of theembodiment 1 is rotated.

FIG. 56 is a cross-sectional view showing the cap part of the tonercontainer in the embodiment 4 of the present disclosure.

FIG. 57 is a diagram showing the flexible member installed near thetoner outlet of the toner container of FIG. 56.

FIGS. 58A-58G are diagrams for showing the state in which the stirringmember is rotated in the toner container of FIG. 56.

FIG. 59 is a diagram showing the toner container in the embodiment 5 ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 60 is a cross-sectional view showing the toner container of FIG.59.

FIG. 61 is a cross-sectional view showing the portion of the tonercontainer of FIG. 59 in the neighborhood of the cap part.

FIG. 62 is a block diagram showing a toner container of anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A description will be predetermined of embodiments of the presentdisclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1

FIGS. 1-46 are diagrams for explaining the embodiment 1 of the presentdisclosure. The composition and operation of the image forming devicewill be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the toner container accommodating part 70 whichis located above the image forming device body 100, four tonercontainers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K corresponding to respective colors(yellow, magenta, cyan, black) are detachably installed (see FIG. 3,FIG. 4, and FIG. 36).

The intermediate transfer unit 15 is disposed under the toner containeraccommodating part 70. The imaging parts 6Y, 6M, 6C and 6K correspondingto respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) are installed sideby side so that intermediate transfer belt 8 of the intermediatetransfer unit 15 may be faced.

Under the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K, the tonerreplenishing devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K are disposed, respectively.The toner contained in toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K issupplied in the developing devices of the imaging parts 6Y, 6M, 6C, and6K by the toner replenishing devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K,respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, the imaging part 6Y corresponding to yellow includesthe photoconductor drum 1Y, the charging part 4Y, the developing device5Y (developing part), the cleaning part 2Y, the electric discharge part(not illustrates), etc. which are disposed around the photoconductordrum 1Y.

On the photoconductor drum 1Y, an imaging process (a charging process,an exposure process, a developing process, a transfer process, acleaning process) will be performed, and a yellow image is formed on thephotoconductor drum 1Y.

Except that the color of the toner used in other three imaging parts 6M,6C, and 6K differs, each image part has the same composition as theimaging part 6Y corresponding to yellow, and the image corresponding toeach toner color is formed.

Next, a description of other three imaging parts 6M, 6C, and 6K will beomitted, and only the imaging part 6Y corresponding to yellow will bedescribed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the photoconductor drum 1Y is rotated in theclockwise direction in FIG. 2 by a drive motor (not illustrated). Thesurface of photoconductor drum 1Y is charged uniformly in the positionof the charging part 4Y (charging process).

Then, the surface of photoconductor drum 1Y arrives at the irradiationposition of laser beam L emitted from aligner 7 (see FIG. 1), and theelectrostatic latent image corresponding to yellow is formed of anexposure scan in this position (exposure process).

Then, the surface of photoconductor drum 1Y arrives at an opposedposition with the developing device 5Y, an electrostatic latent image isdeveloped in this position, and the toner image of yellow is formed(developing process).

Then, the surface of the photoconductor drum 1Y arrives at the opposedposition with the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the first transferbias roller 9Y, and the toner image on the photoconductor drum 1Y istransferred to the intermediate transfer belt 8 in this position(primary transfer process).

At this time, non-transferred toner remains slightly on thephotoconductor drum 1Y.

Then, the surface of photoconductor drum 1Y arrives at the opposedposition with the cleaning part 2Y, and the non-transferred tonerremaining on the photoconductor drum 1Y in this position is mechanicallyrecovered by the cleaning blade 2 a (cleaning process).

Finally, the surface of photoconductor drum 1Y arrives at the opposedposition with the non-illustrated electric discharge part, and the restpotential on the photoconductor drum 1Y is removed in this position.

In this way, a series of imaging processes performed on thephotoconductor drum 1Y are completed. The imaging process mentionedabove is performed on the other imaging parts 6M, 6C, and 6K similar tothe yellow imaging part 6Y. That is, the laser beam L based on imageinformation is irradiated from the exposure part 7 disposed under theimaging part to the photoconductor drum of each of the imaging parts 6M,6C, and 6K. The exposure part 7 emits the laser beam L from a lightsource, and the laser beam is focused on the photoconductor drum via twoor more optical elements, and scanning is performed by the polygonmirror which rotates the laser beam L.

Then, the toner image of each color formed on each photoconductor drumthrough the developing process is formed on the intermediate transferbelt 8. In this way, a color image is formed on the intermediatetransfer belt 8.

As shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate transfer unit 15 comprises primarytransfer bias rollers 9Y, 9M, and 9C of 8 or 4 intermediate transferbelts, 9 K or secondary transfer backup roller 12, two or more tensionrollers, a medium transfer cleaning part, etc.

The intermediate transfer belt 8 is laid firmly and supported by theroller components, and endless movement of the belt is performed byrotation of one roller component 12 in the arrow direction in FIG. 1.Four primary transfer bias rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K put intermediatetransfer belt 8 among photoconductor drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, and forma primary transfer nip, respectively.

Transfer bias contrary to the polarity of the toner is impressed to theprimary transfer bias rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K. The intermediatetransfer belt 8 is rotated in the arrow direction, and passes theprimary transfer nip of each of the primary transfer bias rollers 9Y,9M, 9C, and 9K one by one. In this way, the primary toner image of eachcolor on the photoconductor drums 1Y, 1M, and 1C and 1K is formed on theintermediate transfer belt 8.

The intermediate transfer belt 8 with which the toner image of eachcolor is transferred in piles arrives at an opposed position withsecondary transfer roller 19. In this position, the secondary transferbackup roller 12 puts the intermediate transfer belt 8 between thesecondary transfer rollers 19, and forms a secondary transfer nip in it.

The toner image of four color formed on intermediate transfer belt 8 istransferred to the recording media P, such as a decalcomania paperdelivered in the position of this secondary transfer nip.

At this time, the non-transferred toner which is not transferred byrecording medium P remains in intermediate transfer belt 8.

Then, the intermediate transfer belt 8 arrives at the position of amedium transfer cleaning part (it did not illustrate). Thenon-transferred toner on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is collectedin this position. In this way, a series of transfer processes performedon the intermediate transfer belt 8 are completed.

A recording medium P delivered in the position of the secondary transfernip is delivered via the feed roller 27 or the resist roller pair 28from the feeding part 26 disposed under the device body part 100. Aplurality of recording media P are stored in piles in the feeding part26. When the feed roller 27 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1, thetop recording medium P is fed to the space between the rollers of theresist roller pair 28. The recording medium P delivered by the resistroller pair 28 stops in the position of the roller nip of the resistroller pair 28 which stops rotation.

In accordance with the timing with the color image on the intermediatetransfer belt 8, the resist roller pair 28 is rotated and the recordingmedium P is delivered to a secondary transfer nip. In this way, adesired color image is transferred to the recording medium P.

Then, the recording medium P to which the color image is transferred inthe position of the secondary transfer nip is delivered in the positionof the fixing part 20. The heat and pressure by the fixing roller andthe pressurizing roller are fixed to the color image transferred to thesurface on recording medium P in this position.

Then, the recording medium P is delivered to the space between therollers of the delivery roller pair 29 and discharged out of the imageforming device. The recording medium P discharged by the delivery rollerpair 29 is stacked on the stack part 30 as an output image. In this way,a series of image formation processes in the image forming device arecompleted.

Next, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the composition and operationof the developing device in the imaging part. The developing device 5Yincludes the doctor blade 52Y which faces the developing roller 51Ywhich faces photoconductor drum 1Y, and the developing roller MY, thedeveloper accommodating part 53Y, two conveying screws 55Y disposed in54Y, concentration detection sensor 56Y which detects the tonerconcentration in a developer, etc.

The developing roller 51Y includes a magnet fixed to the inside, asleeve turning around the circumference of the magnet, etc. In thedeveloper accommodating parts 53Y and 54Y, 2 component developer G whichconsists of a carrier and toner is contained.

The developer accommodating part 54Y is open for free passage in thetoner conveyance pipe 64Y (toner conveying route) via the opening formedin the upper part. Operation of the developing device 5Y will bedescribed.

The sleeve of developing roller MY rotates to the arrow direction ofFIG. 2. The developer G supported on the developing roller MY moves withrotation of the sleeve in the developing-roller 51Y top by the magneticsurface formed with the magnet.

The developer G in the developing device 5Y is adjusted so that it maybe within the limits of the toner in the developer comparatively (tonerconcentration) predetermined. The toner contained in toner container 32Yaccording to the toner consumption in the developing device 5Y issupplied in the developer accommodating part 54Y via the tonerreplenishing device 60Y (see FIG. 3). The composition and operation ofthe toner replenishing device will be described later.

The toner supplied in the developer accommodating part 54Y circulatesthrough the two developer accommodating parts 53Y and 54Y by the twoconveying screws 55Y, being mixed and agitated with the developer G(which is the vertical movement in FIG. 2). The toner in the developer Gsticks to the carrier and is supported on the developing roller MY withthe carrier by the magnetism formed on the developing roller 51Y. Thedeveloper G supported on the developing roller 51Y is delivered in thearrow direction in FIG. 2, and arrives at the position of the doctorblade 52Y.

The developer G on the developing roller MY is delivered to the opposedposition (a developing area) with the photoconductor drum 1Y after aproper quantity of the amount of developer turn in this position. Thelatent image formed on the photoconductor drum 1Y of the electricsurface formed in the developing area is adsorbed in toner.

Then, the developer G remaining on the developing roller 51Y reachesabove the developer accommodating part 53Y with rotation of the sleeve,and is removed from the developing roller 51Y in this position.

Next, the toner replenishing devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

The toner in each of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C and 32Kinstalled in the toner container accommodating part 70 of the devicebody part 100, with reference to FIG. 3 is suitably supplied in eachdeveloping device by the toner replenishing devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and60K formed for every toner color, according to the toner consumption inthe developing device of each color.

The toner replenishing devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K or the tonercontainers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K have the identical structure exceptthat the color of the toner used for the imaging process differs. Adescription will be predetermined of only the toner replenishing device60Y corresponding to yellow and the toner container 32Y, and adescription of the toner replenishing devices 60M, 60C, and 60Kcorresponding to other three colors and the toner containers 32M, 32C,and 32K will be omitted.

When the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K are attached to thetoner container accommodating part 70 of the device body part 100 asshown in FIG. 4 (which is the movement indicated by the arrow Q).Interlocked with the attaching operation, the shutter member 34 d ofeach of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K is moved to open thetoner outlet W.

The toner replenishment mouth 72 w (see FIG. 3 and FIGS. 37-39) of thetoner container accommodating part 70 (toner replenishing devices 60Y,60M, 60C, and 60K) and the toner outlet W are open for free passage.

The toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C and 32K and the toner containedtherein will be discharged from the toner outlet W, and will be storedin the toner tank part 61Y from the toner replenishment mouth 72 w ofthe toner container accommodating part 70 (the toner replenishingdevices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K).

As shown in FIG. 3, the toner container 32Y is a cylindrical tonercontainer, and includes the cap part 34Y held by non rotation in thetoner container accommodating part 70, and the container main part 33Yin which the gear 33 c is formed.

The main part 33Y of the toner container is rotatably held on the cappart 34Y, and rotated by the actuator 91 in the direction indicated bythe arrow in FIG. 3 (which includes the drive motor and the drive gear81 as shown in FIG. 42).

With the projection 33 b spirally formed in the inner circumference sideof the container main part 33Y because the main part of container 33Yitself rotates the toner contained in the inside of the toner container32Y (the container main part 33Y) is delivered in the longitudinaldirection (it is conveyance to the method of the right from the left ofFIG. 3), and toner is discharged from the toner outlet W of the cap part34Y. That is, the toner is suitably supplied to the toner tank part 61Ybecause the container main part 33Y of the toner container 32Y rotatessuitably by the actuator 91.

The toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K are exchanged for new onewhen the life is reached.

As shown in FIG. 3, each of the toner replenishing devices 60Y, 60M,60C, and 60K includes the toner container accommodating part 70, thetoner tank part 61Y, the toner conveyance coil 62Y, the toner end sensor66Y, the actuator 91, etc.

The toner tank part 61Y is disposed under the toner outlet W of thetoner container 32Y, and the toner discharged from the toner outlet W ofthe toner container 32Y is stored.

The bottom of the toner tank part 61Y is connected to the upstream partof the toner conveyance pipe 64Y. The toner end sensor 66Y which detectthat the toner stored by the toner tank part 61Y is below apredetermined amount are installed in the surface of the wall of thetoner tank part 61Y. A piezoelectric sensor or the like may be used asthe toner end sensor 66Y.

When it is detected by the control unit 90 that the toner stored in thetoner tank part 61Y is below a predetermined amount by the toner endsensor 66Y (toner end detection), the control unit 90 performs rotationof the container main part 33Y of the toner container 32Y by theactuator 91 (drive gear 81) by a predetermined time, and performs tonerreplenishment to the toner tank part 61Y.

When the toner end detection by the toner end sensor 66Y is not canceledafter such control is repeatedly performed, a message reporting that notoner is in the toner container 32Y and urging the user to performexchange of the toner container 32Y is displayed on the display (notillustrated) of the device body part 100.

Although the illustration is omitted, the toner conveyance coil 62Y isinstalled in the toner conveyance pipe 64Y, and the toner stored in thetoner tank part 61Y is delivered to the developing device 5Y via thetoner conveyance pipe 64Y. The toner conveyance coil 62Y delivers thetoner along with the toner conveyance pipe 64Y to the upper part of thedeveloping device 5Y from the bottom (the lowest point) of the tonertank part 61Y. The toner delivered with toner conveyance coil 62Y issupplied to the developing device 5Y (the developer accommodating part54Y).

As shown in FIG. 4, the toner container accommodating part 70 isconstituted to include the cap receiving part 73 for holding cap part34Y of the toner container 32Y, and the container receiving part 72 forholding the container main part 33Y of the toner container 32Y.

The composition and operation of the toner container accommodating part70 (the container receiving part 72, the cap receiving part 73) will bedescribed later with reference to FIGS. 29-46.

When the body cover (not illustrates) installed above the near side(which is a space vertically near side of FIG. 1) of the device bodypart 100 is opened as shown in FIG. 1, the toner container accommodatingpart 70 will be exposed.

Where the longitudinal direction of each toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C,and 32K is made horizontal, detaching operation (it is the detachingoperation which makes the longitudinal direction of a toner container apath of insertion) of each toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K fromthe near-side upper part of the device body part 100 is performed.

At the time of the attaching operation to the device body part 100, eachof the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K is laid on the tonercontainer accommodating part 70 from the upper part of the device bodypart 100 in the state in which the body cover is opened, the cap part34Y is made into the head after that and it is pushed horizontally(which is the movement indicated by the arrow Q in FIG. 4).

On the other hand, at the time of the detaching operation from thedevice body part 100, operation that each toner containers 32Y, 32M,32C, and 32K are contrary to the time of the attaching will beperformed.

In the embodiment 1, the antenna 73 e (the RFID antenna) is detachablyinstalled in the cap receiving part 73 of the toner containeraccommodating part 70 installed side by side of each of the tonercontainers 32Y 32M, 32C, and 32K (refer to FIG. 30 and FIG. 31).

The antenna 73 e is provided for performing non-contact wirelesscommunications which is installed in the end face of the cap part 34Y ofthe toner container 32Y and the RFID chip 35 (see FIG. 5 and FIG. 9) asthe electronic data storage medium. The transfer of the requiredinformation is performed between the RFID chips 35 (electronic datastorage media) of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K and theantenna 73 e (the RFID antenna) of the device body part 100.

As information which communicates among both sides, there isinformation, including information, including information, including theserial number of the toner container, the number of times of recycling,etc., the capacity of the toner, a lot number, color, etc., the usinghistory of image forming device body 100, etc.

Before such electronic data is installed in image forming device body100 by chip 35 (electronic data storage medium) for RFID, it isbeforehand stored in it (or after being installed, the informationreceived from the device body part 100 is stored).

Next, the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K will be described withreference to FIGS. 5-28. As shown in FIGS. 5-7, the toner container 32Yis composed of the container main part 33Y (container body) and the cappart 34Y (container cap) provided in the head of the container mainpart. As shown in FIG. 9, the toner container 32Y is decomposed into theRFID chip 35 as the electronic data storage medium, the cap seal 37 asthe sealing material, the stirring member 33 f, the shutter member 34 d,the shutter seal 36, the container main part 33Y, and the cap part 34Y.

The gear 33 c which is rotated integrally with the container main part33Y or with the opening, and the opening A are provided in the head ofthe container main part 33Y at the end in the longitudinal direction(which is the vertical direction in FIG. 8) as shown in FIG. 9). Theopening A is provided for turning to the space in the cap part 34Y(which the hollow part B as shown in FIG. 14) the toner which isprovided in the head (it is a position which serves as them in theattaching operation) of the container main part 33Y and is contained inthe container main part 33Y and the opening A discharging it. Deliveryof the toner (rotation of the container main part 33Y) to the hollowpart B of the cap part 34Y from the container main part 33Y is suitablyperformed to make the toner in the cap part 34Y is not lower than thepredetermined waterline.

The gear 33 c is engaged with the drive gear 81 provided in the tonercontainer accommodating part 70 of the device body part 100, in order torotate the container main part 33Y around its the rotating shaft.Specifically, the gear 33 c is formed around the circumference of theopening A, and the plurality of teeth of the gear 33 c are formed inradial directions from the rotating shaft of the container main part33Y.

The gear 33 c is partially exposed from the notch 34 x (see FIG. 16)formed in the cap part 34Y, and engaged with the drive gear 81 of thedevice body part 100 in the engagement position of the slanting lowerportion in FIG. 8. The driving force from the drive gear 81 istransmitted to the gear 33 c, and the container main part 33Y is rotatedin the clockwise rotation of FIG. 8. In the embodiment 1, the drive gear81 and the gear 33 c are spur gears.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the grip part 33 d to be held by the userwhen performing the attaching or detaching operation of the tonercontainer 32Y is provided at the other end of the container main part33Y in the longitudinal direction. While holding the grip part 33 d, theuser attaches the toner container 32Y to the image forming device body100 (the toner container 32Y is moved in the direction indicated by thearrow in FIG. 5).

A spiral projection 33 b is formed in the inner circumference surface ofthe container main part 33Y (which may be a spiral groove if viewed fromthe outer circumference surface). This spiral projection 33 b is forrotating the container main part 33Y to a determined direction, anddischarging toner from opening A.

The container main part 33Y constituted in this way can be manufacturedby blow molding with the gear 33 c and the grip part 33 d which aredisposed on the circumference. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the fit ofthe stirring part 33 f which rotate the toner container 32Y in theembodiment 1 with the container main part 33Y is performed to the bottlemouth part 33 a (opening A).

The stirring parts 33 f are one pair of tabular members installed to theinside of the container main part 33Y from the hollow part B in the cappart 34Y (see FIG. 14). The stirring members 33 f are inclined so thatone pair of tabular members may become alternate, respectively. Thestirring members while the stirring parts 33 f are constituted so thatthe head may arrive above outlet W in cap part 34Y when cap part 34Y andthe container main part 33Y are attached. It is constituted so that theback end (end of the opposite side) may pump up and the part (theportion indicated by the dotted line of FIG. 9 and FIG. 10) may bereached.

The toner ejection characteristic from the opening A improves becausethe stirring part 33 f is rotated with the opening A of the containermain part 33Y.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the fitting part (convex part) is formed inthe bottle mouth part 33 a of the container main part 33Y throughout theouter periphery thereof for engaging with the claw part 34 j (see FIG.14 and FIG. 19) of the cap part 34Y, and connecting the parts 33Y and34Y together. The container main part 33Y is rotatably fitted to the cappart 34Y. Therefore, the gear 33 c is rotated relative to the cap part34Y.

The inside diameter of the head (which is near the position in which thegear 33 c is formed) of the container main part 33Y is formed to besmaller than the inside diameter of the accommodating part (which is theposition in which spiral projection 33 b is formed) in which toner iscontained (see FIG. 14).

The pumping part (the portion indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 9 andFIG. 10) formed so that the circumference might push out toward aninside is provided in the head of the container main part 33Y. The tonerdelivered by the spiral projection 33 b to the opening A by rotation ofthe container main part 33Y is pumped up by the pumping part (theportion indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10) at thesmall-diameter portion of the head.

Then, the toner pumped up by the small-diameter portion of the head isdischarged to the hollow part B of the cap part 34Y from opening A,being agitated by the stirring part 33 f.

As shown in FIGS. 11-14, the shutter member 34 d, the shutter seal 36,the cap seal 37, and the RFID chip 35 (electronic data storage medium)are disposed in the cap part 34Y of the toner container 32Y. In the cappart 34Y, the opening A of the container main part 33Y is inserted in anaccommodating part 34 z (see FIG. 17) which is formed to have an insidediameter larger than the diameter of the hollow part B.

As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 16, the toner outlet W for being outside acontainer and making the vertical direction lower part discharge thetoner discharged from opening A of the container main part 33Y (prudencedrop) is formed in the bottom of the cap part 34Y. The shutter memberthe shutter member 34 d for opening and closing the toner outlet W areheld possible slide movement at the bottom of the cap part 34Y. By therelative movement, the shutter member 34Y opens the toner outlet W (itis movement to the left of FIG. 14) from the cap part 34Y side to thecontainer main part 33Y side in the longitudinal direction.

The relative movement (which is a movement in the right direction inFIG. 14) of the longitudinal direction from the container main part 33Yside to the cap part 34Y side, the shutter member 34Y closes the toneroutlet W. The opening/closing action of the shutter member 34 d isinterlocked with the attaching/detaching operation of the longitudinaldirection of the toner container 32Y to the toner containeraccommodating part 70 (the device body part 100) and is performed.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show operation after the shutter member 34 d startopening of the toner outlet W until the opening is completed.

FIGS. 18A, 18B and 18C are diagrams for explaining the opening operationof (the shutter deforming part 34 d 2) of the shutter member 34 d atthat time.

As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the first hole 34 a (the main referencehole) installed in the longitudinal direction from the end face of thecap part 34Y which intersects vertically in the longitudinal directionis formed in the upper part (ceiling part) of the cap part 34Y.

The first hole 34 a serves as a positioning main standard of the cappart 34Y in image forming device body 100. The attaching operation ofthe longitudinal direction of the toner container 32Y to the tonercontainer accommodating part 70 is interlocked with, and the first hole34 a of the cap part 34Y engages with the main reference pin 73 a (seeFIG. 32 and FIG. 46) of the cap receiving part 73.

The second hole 34 b (sub-reference hole) installed in the longitudinaldirection from the end face of the cap part 34Y which intersectsvertically in the longitudinal direction is formed in the lower part(bottom) of the cap part 34Y so that the position of the toner outlet Wmay not be arrived at.

The second hole 34 b serves as positioning sub-reference of the cap part34Y in image forming device body 100. The attaching operation of thelongitudinal direction of the toner container 32Y to the toner containeraccommodating part 70 is interlocked with, and the second hole 34 b ofthe cap part 34Y engages with sub-reference pin 73 b (see FIG. 32 andFIG. 46) of the cap receiving part 73.

The second hole 34 b is a long hole which makes the vertical directionthe longitudinal direction (this the “direction of a stretcher” differsfrom the meaning of the “direction of a stretcher” of the tonercontainer 32Y indicated in other parts), as shown in FIG. 8.

Positioning of the cap part 34Y in the toner container accommodatingpart 70 is performed by two holes 34 a and 34 b constituted in this way.

As shown in FIG. 8, at the flat surface which intersects vertically inthe longitudinal direction, while being a virtual altitude passingthrough the center of the first hole 34 a, a virtual altitude passingthrough the center of the second hole 34 b, and the same straight line,it is formed so that it may pass along the circle center of the cap part34Y.

As shown in FIG. 14, the depth (or the longitudinal length of the mainreference pin 73 a) of the hole of the first hole 34 a is set up for along time than the depth (or longitudinal length of sub-reference pin 73b) of the hole of the second hole 34 b.

This sets in the attaching operation of the longitudinal direction ofthe toner container 32Y to the toner container accommodating part 70(the cap receiving part 73). After the engagement of the main referencepin 73 a to the first hole 34 a used as a positioning main standard isstarted, the engagement of sub-reference pin 73 b to the second hole 34b used as positioning sub-reference will be started, and smooth theattaching of the toner container 32Y to the toner containeraccommodating part 70 (the cap receiving part 73) is allowed.

While the opening of the first hole 34 a and the opening of the secondhole 34 b are formed in the embodiment 1 on the same virtual plane(which is a virtual plane which intersects vertically with a mountingdirection), although the root part of the main reference pin 73 a andthe root part of sub-reference pin 73 b are formed on the same virtualplane (it is a virtual plane which intersects vertically with a mountingdirection). In a case where these openings or root parts are not formedon the same virtual plane, the distance difference of the mountingdirection of the position of the point of the main reference pin 73 a,and the position of the point of sub-reference pin 73 b are formed to belonger than the distance difference of the mounting direction of theposition of the opening of the first hole 34 a, and the position of theopening of the second hole 34 b.

After the engagement of the main reference pin 73 a to the first hole 34a used as a positioning main standard is started like the embodiment 1,the engagement of sub-reference pin 73 b to the second hole 34 b used aspositioning sub-reference will be started.

The first hole 34 a long in the longitudinal direction in this way isformed in the ceiling part (portion which is not buried in toner) of thecap part 34Y. The influence which it has on the conveyancecharacteristic (mobility) of the toner in cap part 34Y will not arise.The second hole 34 b short in the longitudinal direction is formed inthe bottom of the cap part 34Y.

However, it can install using the short space from the end face of thecap part 34Y to the position of the toner outlet W, and the function aspositioning sub-reference is fully exhibited.

As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the first engagement part 34 e and 34 fof the second engagement part as a specification part which regulate thehorizontal posture which intersects vertically in the longitudinaldirection of the cap part 34Y in image forming device body 100 (the capreceiving part 73) are formed in the ceiling part of the cap part 34Y.

The first engagement part 34 e and 34 f of the second engagement partall, while projecting in the vertical direction upper part from theouter circumference surface of the cap part 34Y so that it may become aline symmetry form to the virtual altitude passing through the holecenter of the first hole 34 a when it sees in the part (which is a partwhich is parallel to the front view of FIG. 8) which intersectsvertically in the longitudinal direction, it is installed in thelongitudinal direction (it is a space vertical direction of FIG. 8).

The first engagement part 34 e and 34 f of the second engagement partengage with the engagement part 73 m of the cap receiving part 73 shownin FIG. 29. While the horizontal posture of the cap part 34Y isregulated and cap part 34Y is detached and attached to the cap receivingpart 73, the horizontal posture of the cap part 34Y in the state inwhich the cap receiving part 73 is equipped with cap part 34Y isregulated. The first engagement part 34 e (specification part) is formedright above the first hole 34 a, and when it sees in the part whichintersects vertically in the longitudinal direction, it has arectangular part. The lobe 34 e 1 to which the first engagement part 34e projects in the longitudinal direction (mounting direction) to the endface of the first hole 34 a is formed. The head of the lobe 34 e 1 isformed in tapered shape as shown in FIG. 11.

On the other hand, the second engagement part 34 f is formed in the bothsides of the first engagement part 34 e so that the first engagementpart 34 e may be pinched. It engages with the engagement part 73 mformed in the cap receiving part 73 so that the first engagement part 34e and 34 f of the second engagement part may enter.

Since the tapered shape lobe 34 e 1 in the first hole 34 a engages withthe engagement part 73 m ahead of the second engagement part 34 f whenthe cap part 34Y is attached to the cap receiving part 73, and theattaching operation of the cap part 34Y to the cap receiving part 73 canbe performed smoothly.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, shoulder parts 34 q are formed at the outercircumference parts of the portion of the cap part 34Y which forms theaccommodating part 34 z. The upper surface and the side comprise a flatsurface, and this shoulder 34 q is constituted so that those flatsurfaces may perform rectangular cross.

When the shoulder 34 q equips the toner container accommodating part 70with toner container 32Y, it is interlocked with the attaching operationand contacts positioning part 73 q (see FIG. 29) provided in the capreceiving part 73 of the toner container accommodating part 70.

Therefore, the deflection of the cap part 34Y in the cap receiving part73 will be controlled, and the attaching of the cap part 34Y to the capreceiving part 73 will be performed smoothly.

As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, pressing part 34 c which projects onthe outer circumference surface of the cap part 34Y is formed in themethod part of both sides of the cap part 34Y, respectively.

The cap part 34Y is attached to the cap receiving part 73 of the tonercontainer accommodating part 70 (the image forming device body 100) withthe pressing part 34 c. Or when breaking away, it is pressed in thedirection which resists the force of the mounting direction (or thedetaching operation direction) by the pressing part 73 d of the capreceiving part 73 (see FIG. 29 and FIGS. 37-39).

Therefore, the user can perform the attaching operation of the tonercontainer 32Y to the cap receiving part 73. Or in the detachingoperation, after feeling the reaction force which resists the controlforce of a mounting direction (or the detaching operation direction) inthe position where pressing part 34 c and the pressing part 73 d areengaged, the control force of a mounting direction (or the detachingoperation direction) will be heightened, and the attaching operation (ordetaching operation) will be completed at a stretch.

Therefore, the user can get a high click feeling in the attachingoperation (or detaching operation) of the toner container 32Y to the capreceiving part 73.

As shown in FIG. 8, the pressing part 34 c formed in the method part ofboth sides of the cap part 34Y is on the virtual horizontal surfacepassing through the center of the point (which is the small-diameterportion where the pressing part 34 c and the non-compatible shape part34 g are formed) of the cap part 34Y, and is provided on the outercircumference surface, respectively.

The pressing part 34 c projects on the horizontal sides from the outercircumference surface of the cap part 34Y so that it may be disposed onthe virtual horizontal line passing through the middle point for theimaginary line which connects the hole center of the first hole 34 a,and the hole center of the second hole 34 b when it sees in the partwhich intersects vertically in the longitudinal direction, it isinstalled in the longitudinal direction (it is a space verticaldirection of FIG. 8).

The pressing part 34 c is formed in the longitudinal direction (mountingdirection) as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. The form of the pressingpart 34 c is formed so that the inclination on the side of the head issmaller than the inclination on the side of the container main part.Thereby, the user can perform the attaching/detaching operation smoothlyin the attaching/detaching operation of the toner container 32Y to thecap receiving part 73, obtaining a high click feeling.

As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, on the end face of the cap part 34Y, anRFID chip 35 as an electronic data storage medium in which variouselectronic data items are stored is disposed in the installation part 34k (surrounded by the convex part) formed between the first hole 34 a andthe second hole 34 b. The RFID chip 35 is disposed so that the RFID chip35 is positioned at a predetermined distance apart from and faces theantenna 73 e (the RFID antenna) of the cap receiving part 73 when thecap part 34Y is attached to the toner container accommodating part 70(the cap receiving part 73). The RFID chip 35 performs non-contactcommunications (wireless communications) with the antenna 73 e in thestate in which the cap part 34Y is held by the cap receiving part 73.

In the embodiment 1, the RFID chip 35 is fixed to the position betweenthe first hole 34 a (the main reference hole) and the second hole 34 b(sub-reference hole). The position of the RFID chip 35 to the antenna 73e of the cap receiving part 73 is defined with high precision.Therefore, it is possible to prevent poor communications from occurringdue to the deviation of the RFID chip 35 to the antenna 73 e.

The lobe 34 e 1 and the projections 34 m are formed to project to thefront side (which is the right-hand side in FIG. 14) from the convexpart (rib) formed in the circumference of the installation part 34 k,respectively. In a case where the toner container 32Y is placed in aninverted state with the cap part 34Y facing the bottom and the containermain part 33Y facing the top, the problem that the RFID chip 35 held inthe installation part 34 k contacts the standing surface directly andthereby being damaged will be prevented by the lobe 34 e 1 and theprojections 34 m.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the non-compatible shape part 34 g forensuring the incompatibility of the toner container 32Y is provided onthe outer circumference surface of the cap part 34Y. The non-compatibleshape part 34 g is constituted to fit into the fitting part 73 c (seeFIG. 32) of the cap receiving part 73 only when the attaching operationof the toner container 32Y to the toner container accommodating part 70is proper (or when the toner container 32Y is attached to the rightposition of the toner container accommodating part 70).

As shown in FIG. 8 and FIGS. 27A-27C, the non-compatible shape part 34 ghas a shape that is varied depending on the color of the toner containedin the toner container (the container main part).

As shown in FIG. 27A, the non-compatible shape part 34 g of the tonercontainer 32C corresponding to cyan is constituted to have a shape thatcan fit into only the fitting part 73 c of the toner containeraccommodating part 70 for the cyan.

As shown in FIG. 27B, the non-compatible shape part 34 g of the tonercontainer 32M corresponding to magenta is constituted to have a shapethat can fit into only the fitting part 73 c of the toner containeraccommodating part 70 for the magenta.

As shown in FIG. 8, the non-compatible shape part 34 g of the tonercontainer 32Y corresponding to yellow is constituted to have a shapethat can fit into only the fitting part 73 c of the toner containeraccommodating part 70 for the yellow.

As shown in FIG. 27C, the non-compatible shape part 34 g of the tonercontainer 32K corresponding to black is constituted to have a shape thatcan fit into only the fitting part 73 c of the toner containeraccommodating part 70 for the black.

By this composition, it is possible to prevent the problem that thetoner container of a different color (for example, the toner containerfor the yellow) is set to the toner container accommodating part of apredetermined color (for example, the toner container accommodating partfor the cyan) resulting in the non-formation of a desired color image.That is, the wrong setting of the toner container to the toner containeraccommodating part is prevented.

Alternatively, the shapes of the non-compatible shape parts 34 g fordifferent toner containers as shown in FIGS. 28A-28E may be used insteadof those shown in FIG. 8 and FIGS. 27A-27C.

The cap part 34Y in the embodiment 1 is formed so that thenon-compatible shape part 34 g has a convex or concave shape, extendsalong the longitudinal direction of the container main part 33Y side,and is arranged to confront from the position of the head end of the cappart 34Y in the longitudinal direction toward the container main part33Y. The non-compatible shape parts 34 g are formed so that the point(which is a point on the right-hand side of FIG. 14) may be located inthe mounting direction side (it is on the right-hand side of FIG. 14)rather than the toner outlet W.

If it is the color from which the toner container differs whenperforming the attaching operation of the toner container 32Y as shownin FIG. 4 with constituting in this way, the non-compatible shape part34 g provided at the head of the cap part 34Y will interfere withoutengaging with the fitting part 73 c of the cap receiving part 73, theproblem that the toner with which the opening operation of the shuttermember 34 d with which the toner outlet W of the cap part 34Y is coveredis started, and color differs will turn to image forming device body100, and will be accidentally supplied from the toner outlet W isprevented certainly.

The image forming device 100 in the embodiment 1 is constituted so thatslide movement may be performed horizontally (the longitudinaldirection) and the attaching operation may be completed, after the tonercontainer 34Y is laid from the upper part to the toner containeraccommodating part 70, as shown in FIG. 4.

It is necessary to judge the incompatibility of the toner container inthe position of the cap receiving part 73 in the toner containeraccommodating part 70. Therefore, the composition of providing thenon-compatible shape part 34 g at the head of the cap part 34Y asmentioned above becomes useful. These parts are two projections formedin the head upper part of the cap part 34Y radially the non-compatibleshape part 34 g with reference to FIGS. 8 and 12.

Next, the non-compatible shape parts 34 g of various shapes which can beformed will be described with reference to FIGS. 27A-27C or FIGS.28A-28E.

It is not necessary to manufacture the kind of the toner container (cappart), and the metallic mold of the same number. By this composition,the cap part which has two or more kinds of incompatibility with onemetallic mold can be formed, and the manufacturing cost of the kinds ofthe whole the toner container can be reduced.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the non-compatible shape parts 34 g aredisposed above cap part 34Y. By this even if it is a case where thelongitudinal direction received horizontally, and toner container 32Y(cap part 34Y) inclined, and is inserted to the cap receiving part 73,the non-compatible shape part 34 g interferes in the position of fittingpart 73 c of the cap receiving part 73, and judgment of theincompatibility of the toner container mentioned above can be ensured.

Since the kind of the toner container is specified, the non-compatibleshape part 34 g formed in the point of the cap part 34Y make a differentposition on the outer circumference surface of the cap part 34Y extendin the shape of a convex along the longitudinal direction for everykind.

Although the non-compatible shape part 34 g of the cap part 34Y areformed in the shape of a convex and fitting part 73 c of the capreceiving part 73 is formed in the concave part in the embodiment 1, thenon-compatible shape part 34 g of the cap part 34Y can be formed in aconcave part, and fitting part 73 c of the cap receiving part 73 canalso be formed in the shape of a convex.

Since the destination of the toner container is pinpointed in cap part34Y in the embodiment 1 with reference to FIG. 12, 34 h of convex partsfor non-compatibility are formed. The convex part 34 h is constituted sothat the image forming device body 100 may fit into the fitting member(not illustrated) formed in the container receiving part 72.

As shown in FIG. 12, a notch 34 x (insertion opening) at which the partof the gear 33 c of the container main part 33Y is exposed is formed inthe outer circumference surface of the cap part 34Y.

The drive gear 81 (the portion indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 29)in which the gear 33 c exposed from the notch 34 x of the cap part 34Yis installed in the cap receiving part 73 where the toner containeraccommodating part 70 is equipped with toner container 32Y (see FIGS.40-42). It gears and the container main part 33Y rotates with the gear33 c by the drive gear 81.

As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, when the shutter member 34 d opens thetoner outlet W, the shutter accommodating part 34 n which store theshutter member 34 d inside are formed in the bottom of the cap part 34Y.The shutter accommodating parts 34 n are the portions into which thebottom of the accommodating part 34 z bulged toward the lower part.

The shutter accommodating part 34 n form the space that the rectangularportion projects below. The portion (the accommodating part 34 z) inwhich the container main part 33Y is inserted, and the shutteraccommodating part 34 n are not divided with the wall, but form a seriesof space. Therefore, in the state in which the container main part 33Yis inserted in the cap part 34Y, a part will be vacant as for the spaceof the rectangle in the lower part of the accommodating part 34 z.

The shutter accommodating parts 34 n hold the shutter deforming parts 34d 2 after the shutter member 34 d opens the toner outlet W. As shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, the slide groove 34 n 1 (the first rail part) is formedin the internal surface of the shutter accommodating part 34 n, whichfunctions as a rail part to which it shows the opening/closing action ofthe shutter member 34 d with the shutter rail 34 t (the second rail partas shown in FIG. 20). The slide groove 34 n 1 is a groove which extendsin parallel with the longitudinal direction of the cap part 34Y, and isinstalled from the front side (it is a method of the right of FIG. 14)of the shutter accommodating part 34 n.

The slide groove 34 n 1 and the shutter rail 34 t are formed in parallelwith the longitudinal direction by each. The shutter rail 34 t does notextend to the shutter accommodating part 34 n, but a gap exists betweenthe shutter rail 34 t and the shutter accommodating part 34 n.

The composition and operation of the shutter member 34 d will bedescribed.

The cap part 34Y as described above is open for free passage on thecontainer main part 33Y via the opening A, and discharges the tonerdischarged from the opening A from the toner outlet W (which is moved inthe direction indicated by the dotted line arrow in FIG. 3).

In the embodiment 1, as shown FIG. 14, the pillar-like hollow part B(space) is formed in the inside of the cap part 34Y so that it mayextend in the longitudinal direction (which is the longitudinaldirection in FIG. 14). The inside diameter of the hollow part B isformed smaller than the inside diameter of the accommodating part 34 z(in which the head of the container main part 33Y is inserted) shown inFIG. 17.

The toner drop passage C is formed in the inside of the cap part 34Y andarranged in a pillar-like configuration having a fixed passage area(passage sectional area) to the toner outlet W from the circumference ofthe lower part of the hollow part B. The toner discharged by the hollowpart B of the cap part 34Y from opening A of the container main part 33Ywill perform prudence drop of the pillar-like configuration the tonerdrop passage C, and will be discharged smoothly (toner tank part 61Y)out of a container from the toner outlet W.

As shown in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22, the cap part 34Y (in the state in whichthe shutter member 34 d, the shutter seal 36, the cap seal 37, and theRFID chip 35 are taken out) welds two or more casts, and is not formed,but is formed by integral molding. The cap part 34Y has a complicatedstructure and includes the claw part 34 j, the non-compatible shape part34 g, the pressing part 34 c, the toner outlet W, the toner drop passageC, etc.

In order to really form the cap part 34Y of such a complicated structureby molding, without using two or more pairs of metallic molds, as shownin FIG. 23, when the cap part 34Y is seen in the plane of projectionwhich intersects vertically in the longitudinal direction, it isnecessary to arrange the claw parts 34 j and the holes 34 j 1 and 34 j 3for molding provided in the neighborhood of the claw parts 34 j, thenon-compatible shape part 34 g, the pressing parts 34 c, the toneroutlet W, and the toner drop passage C, so that these parts do notmutually overlap other parts. Especially, the claw parts 34 j and theholes 34 j 1 and 34 j 3 for molding must be arranged so that these partsdo not overlap with other parts (including the non-compatible shape part34 g, the pressing part 34 c, the toner outlet W, the toner drop passageC, etc.).

Interpolation part 34 z and claw part formation part 34 i by which clawpart 34 j is formed between the hollow parts B are formed in the cappart 34Y. The claw part formation part 34 i is formed so that thediameter of the perimeter is smaller than the diameter of the perimeterof the accommodating part 34 z and larger than the diameter of theperimeter of the portion in which the hollow part B is formed.

Similarly, the claw part formation part 34 i is formed so that thediameter of the inner circumference is smaller than the diameter of theinner circumference of the accommodating part 34 z, and larger than thediameter of the inner circumference of the portion in which the hollowpart B is formed.

In order that the claw part 34 j may fit into the bottle mouth part 33 a(the opening A) of the container main part 33Y, the hooking portionwhich projects to the inside is formed at the head.

FIGS. 24A and 24B show metallic molds 200 for carrying out the injectionmolding of the cap part 34Y which includes the claw part 34 j. Themetallic mold 200 includes the inner die 201 and the die body 202.

As shown in FIG. 24A, when the dies 201 and 202 are set, the resinmaterial which is melted is poured to the space between the dies 201 and202. After a cooling process is performed, the claw part 34 j (the cappart 34Y) is formed.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 24B, after the dies 201 and 202 areseparated, the claw part 34 j (the cap part 34Y) is taken out.

In order to form the hooking portion of the claw part 34 j, the risingpart 202 a is formed in the die body 202. In order to separate the dies201 and 202, the first hole 34 j 1 for molding for taking out the risingpart 202 a of the die body 202 is formed near the claw member 34 j inthe cap part 34Y.

Specifically, the wall is set up between the perimeter of the claw partformation part 34 i and the perimeter of the hollow part B, and thefirst hole 34 j 1 is formed in this wall. This hole is equivalent to thefirst hole 34 j 1 formed in the inner circumference side of the clawpart 34 j in FIG. 23.

The first hole 34 j 1 formed in the inner circumference side of the clawpart 34 j is formed in the adhesion surface 34 v on which the cap seal37 is stuck as shown in FIG. 21. However, in order to satisfy thefunction (sealing characteristic of the container main part 33Y and thecap part 34Y) of the cap seal 37, the position of the first hole 34 j 1is excluded and most cap seals 37 may be installed on the adhesionsurface 34 v.

The second hole 34 j 3 formed in the outer circumference surface side ofthe claw part 34 j as shown in FIG. 23 is provided for forming the backsurface of the claw part 34 j (the side on which the hooking portiondoes not project). Specifically, the second hole 34 j 3 is the openingformed in the surface of the rising wall between the claw part formationpart 34 i and the accommodating part 34 z.

As shown in FIG. 23, the notch 34 x in the claw part 34 j formed in thelower right position serves as the second hole 34 j 3. As shown in FIG.23, the recess 34 j 2 in the claw part 34 j formed in the uppermostposition serves as the second hole 34 j 3.

Thus, in the embodiment 1, the cap part 34Y is formed by integralmolding. Compared with the case where adhesion or welding of two or moremolding parts is performed, the problem of inaccurate dimensions of thecap part due to the variation in the accuracy of adhesion or welding canbe prevented.

Therefore, the gap between the container main part 33Y and the cap part34Y will be maintained with good accuracy. The problem of degradation ofthe sealing characteristic between the components 33Y and 34Y with thecap seal 37, and the problem of shifting of the position of the toneroutlet W of the cap part 34Y from the toner replenishment mouth 72 w ofthe image forming device body 100 causing toner scattering can beprevented. The cap part 34Y is formed by integral molding, and themechanical intensity of the cap part 34Y can be increased when comparedwith the case where adhesion or welding of two or more molding parts isperformed. The cost of metallic molds can be reduced.

As shown in FIGS. 19-22, the annular cap seal 37 is stuck on theopposite surface (the surface which faces the bottle mouth part 33 aaround the opening A of the container main part 33Y and the adhesionsurface 34 v) of the cap part 34Y. The cap seal 37 is provided forclosing the gap between the container main part 33Y and the cap part 34Yaround the opening A, and is formed of an elastic material (a foamedresin material, such as a foamed polyurethane).

As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the hollow part 34 v 1 for separating thecap seal 37 from the cap part 34Y is formed in the adhesion surface 34 vof the cap part 34Y in the embodiment 1. The notch 34 x is an insertionopening in which the cylindrical fixture for separating the cap seal 37from the cap part 34Y is inserted is formed in the position on the outercircumference surface of the cap part 34Y which faces the position inwhich the recess 34 v 1 is formed. A recess 34 x 1 used as the fulcrumpoint of the above-mentioned fixture is formed in the part of the notch34 x (the insertion opening). Even if it is a case where it maintainswhen it recycles toner container 32Y (cap part 34Y), cap seal 37 iseasily separable from cap part 34Y with such composition.

Specifically, a cylindrical fixture (for example, a phillipsscrewdriver) may be inserted from the notch 34 x (the insertion opening)and the head of the fixture may be inserted in the recess 34 v 1. Thatis, the head of the fixture is inserted in the part of the underside(the adhesion surface side) of the cap seal 37.

The cap seal 37 is separated for the recess 34 x 1 from adhesion surface34 v as the fulcrum point, carrying out engagement of the center part ofthe cylindrical fixture to recess 34 x 1. The film member 37 a is stuckon the surface where the cap seal 37 in the embodiment 1 is stuck on thecap part 37Y. The film member 37 a is hard compared with the foamedresin material which is formed of a material, such as a polyester film,and constitutes the main part of the cap seal 37. The separationoperation characteristic by the fixture mentioned above will improve.

The recess 34 v 1 for separating the cap seal 37 is formed in theposition corresponding to the inner circumference side of the cap seal37, and formed in the position corresponding to the outside of theregion of the region where the cap seal 37 contacts the container mainpart 33Y. That is, the recess 34 v 1 is formed so that the portion whichseparated from the region which actually contributes to sealingcharacteristic in cap seal 37 may be faced.

The problem that the sealing characteristic of both components 33Y and34Y falls by this so that cap seal 37 inserted between the containermain part 33Y and cap part 34Y may not change into by the recess 34 v 1is prevented.

The cap seal 37 is disposed on the container main part 33Y side in thelongitudinal direction (it is a left of FIG. 14) to the pressing part 34c in which the cap part 34Y in the embodiment 1 is installed in thelongitudinal direction as shown in FIG. 20. The pressing part 34 cprojects from the outer circumference surface of the cap part 34Y andenlarges the outer diameter of the cap part 34Y. By forming the cap seal37 with a certain amount of attachment range (or the outer diameter ofthe cap part 34Y) is needed according to the size of the bottle mouthpart 33 a (the opening A) of the container main part 33Y in a separateposition, enlargement (the large diameter) of the cap part 34Y can beprevented.

The cap part 34Y is formed so that the outer diameter of the point inwhich pressing part 34 c is formed may become smaller than the outerdiameter of the portion in which adhesion surface 34 v of the cap seal37 is formed. Therefore, even if the pressing part 34 c is formed, theouter diameter does not become so large, but the point of the cap part34Y can secure the adhesion surface of the cap seal 37 somewhat greatly.

That is, without enlarging the cap part 34Y, the high sealingcharacteristic of the container main part 33Y and the cap part 34Y willbe maintained, and the attaching/detaching operation of the tonercontainer 32Y will be performed smoothly.

As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 14, the installation part 34 k forinstalling the RFID chip 35 is formed in the end face of the cap part34Y. The installation part 34 k is a wall part formed so that thecircumference thereof projects from the end face of the cap part 34Y.The pedestal part for fixing the four corners of the RFID chip 35 of therectangle is provided in the four corners of the rectangular wall partinside the installation part 34 k. By placing the RFID chip 35 on thepedestal part, the electronic device formed on the back surface (whichfaces the first member 34Y1) of the RFID chip 35 may not contact thefirst member 34Y1. After the RFID chip 35 is disposed on theinstallation part 34 k, the RFID chip 35 is laid on the pedestal part,and by applying heat and pressure to the portion of the pedestal part,cooling solidification and joining of the four corners of the RFID chip35 is performed.

As shown in FIG. 20, the shutter rail 34 t (the second rail part) forshowing the shutter member 34 d to the both sides, and moving them inthe longitudinal direction so that the shutter member 34 d may open andclose the toner outlet W is formed in the bottom of the cap part 34Y.The shutter rail 34 t has the direction of the shorter side (whichintersects vertically to the longitudinal direction of the tonercontainer 32Y and is the vertical direction in FIG. 14) to the edge ofthe bottom in which the toner outlet W is formed. The overhang part isinstalled and formed in the longitudinal direction (a direction parallelto the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32Y). The end ofthis overhang part functions as the vertical walls 34 s explained below.

The two vertical walls 34 s formed in the both-sides edge of the cappart 34Y respectively are continuously formed to the position whichprojects in the longitudinal direction (mounting direction) from the endof the close direction of the shutter member 34 d to the position whichcloses the toner outlet W (see FIG. 45). The lock projection which stopsthe shutter member 34 d to avoid falling out to the front side isprovided in the upper end surface of the shutter rail 34 t.

In the embodiment 1, the portion which functions as the shutter rail 34t is a portion prolonged in the container main part 33Y side from thelock projection mentioned above. The vertical walls 34 s are furtherprolonged toward the front side from the position of the lock projectionmentioned above. The heights 34 m which project from the end face whichintersects vertically in the longitudinal direction (mounting direction)are formed in the cap part 34Y. The heights 34 m are disposed near thelower end of the second hole 34 b so that the second hole 34 b may bepinched in the direction of the shorter side (it is a space verticaldirection of FIG. 14). The two vertical walls 34 s are constituted sothat the vertical plane of the side edge in the heights 34 m may beincluded respectively. That is, the vertical plane of the side edge ofthe outside of the heights 34 m is formed to be the vertical walls 34 sas the ribs formed in the shutter rail 34 t and the same surface.

The bottom of the two heights 34 m is prolonged to the respectively sameheight as the rib (the edge of the hole 34 b) which forms the secondhole 34 b.

The head part of the heights 34 m in the shape can be connected, onetabular height can be formed, and the both side surfaces of the heightcan also be used as 34 s of vertical wall.

The vertical walls 34 s constituted in this way are pinching sides whichare pinched by the first sandwiching part 72 d 1 of the shutter closemechanism 72 d (shutter pinching mechanism) in the cap receiving part 73(the toner container accommodating part 70) (see FIG. 45). That is, theposture of the shutter member 34 d in the cap part 34Y set to the capreceiving part 73 is defined by the shutter close mechanism 72 d whichalso functions as a shutter pinching mechanism. Hence, that installed inthe mounting direction (which is the right direction in FIG. 45) for along time as 34 s of vertical wall which function as a pinching side arementioned above.

As opposed to the timing in which the shutter close mechanism 72 dcloses the shutter member 34 d thoroughly when taking out the tonercontainer 32Y from the toner container accommodating part 70, theshutter close mechanism 72 d (the second sandwiching part 72 d 2) candelay the timing which cancels holding of the shutter member 34 d on thevertical walls 34 s.

Hence, the problem that the toner container 32Y is taken out from thedevice body part 100 before the shutter member 34 d closes the toneroutlet W thoroughly will be prevented. Especially, the point of thelongitudinal direction of 34 m of two heights (mounting direction) inthe last timing in case the cap part 34Y separates from the capreceiving part 73 since it is in the position projected in thelongitudinal direction (mounting direction) from the end face of thefirst hole 34 a, release of holding of the shutter member 34 d by 72 d(72 d 2 of the second sandwiching part) of shutter close mechanisms isperformed, and the effect of preventing poor closing of the shuttermember 34 d mentioned above will become positive. The composition andoperation of 72 d (shutter pinching mechanism) of shutter closemechanisms will be described later with reference to FIG. 43-FIG. 45.

The shutter member 34 d to which the shutter seal 36 is stuck on theopposite surface with the toner outlet W is installed in the bottom ofthe cap part 34Y. The shutter member 34 d is for opening and closing thetoner outlet B, which is interlocked with the attaching/detachingoperation of the toner container 32Y to the toner containeraccommodating part 70, as shown in FIGS. 15-17.

As shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the shutter member 34 d is constituted toinclude the shutter main part 34 d 1 and the shutter deforming part 34 d2. The shutter deforming part 34 d 2 projects to the side of thecontainer main part 33Y from the shutter main part 34 d 1, and has athickness smaller than the thickness of the shutter main part 34 d 1.One pair of shutter sliders 34 d 12 are formed on the outer sides of theshutter main part 34 d 1, and one pair of shutter rail engagement parts34 d 15 are formed on the inner sides of the shutter main part 34 d 1.The shutter sliders 34 d 12 are projections formed in the side part ofthe shutter main part 34 d 1 in parallel to the insertion direction ofthe toner container 32Y. The shutter rail engagement parts 34 d 15 areprojections formed inside the shutter main part 34 d 1 at apredetermined distance from the shutter seal 36.

The shutter sliders 34 d 12 of the shutter main part 34 d 1 are engagedwith the slide grooves 34 n 1 of the cap part 34Y (the first rail part),and engaged so that the shutter rail 34 t (the second rail part) of thecap part 34Y is inserted between the shutter seal 36 and the shutterrail engagement parts 34 d 15 of the shutter main part 34 d 1. Theshutter main part 34 d 1 opens and closes the toner outlet W because theshutter member 34 d moves along with these rail parts 34 n 1 and 34 t.

In the embodiment 1, the longitudinal length (the length of the tonercontainer 32Y in the insertion direction) of the slide groove 34 n 1(the first rail part), formed in the shutter accommodating part 34 n asshown in FIG. 20, is smaller than the longitudinal length of the shutterrail 34 t (the second rail part).

The shutter seal 36 as a seal member is stuck on the upper surface(which faces the toner outlet W) of the shutter main part 34 d 1. Theshutter seal 36 is for preventing leakage of toner from the spacebetween the toner outlet W and the shutter main part 34 d 1 in the statein which the shutter main part 34 d 1 (the shutter member 34 d) closesthe toner outlet W. The shutter seal 36 may be formed of a foamed resinmaterial, etc.

As shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the shutter seal 36 in the embodiment 1 isdisposed to project in the longitudinal direction (mounting direction)from the end of the shutter member 34 d in the close direction. As shownin FIGS. 25 and 26, the shutter main part 34 d 2 is formed integrallywith the shutter deforming part 34 d 2 of the shutter member 34 d, andthe part 34 d 21 of the shutter main part 34 d 2 is formed to makeelastic deformation possible in a sliding direction on the connectinglocation (the portion indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 18B).

The shutter deforming part 34 d 2 of the shutter main part 34 d 1 isdisposed in the container main part 33Y side in the longitudinaldirection (see FIG. 15). The stopper part 34 d 22 and the stopperrelease part 34 d 21 are formed in the shutter deforming part 34 d 2.The shutter deforming part 34 d 2 is installed to have an inclinationtoward the lower part (the lower part of FIG. 14) from the shutter mainpart 34 d 1.

The stopper part 34 d 22 of the shutter deforming part 34 d 2 is thewall part formed in the end part of the shutter deforming part 34 d 2 inthe opening direction (the left direction in FIG. 18A). This regulatesmovement of the shutter member 34 d in the direction which opens thetoner outlet W from the state which closes the toner outlet W when thestopper part 34 d 22 contacts the contact part 34 n 5 formed in thecontainer part 34 n 22 of the cap part 34Y.

The stopper release part 34 d 21 of the shutter deforming part 34 d 2 isformed to project to the lower part in the vertical direction. Byreceiving an external force from the lower part, the stopper releasepart 34 d 21 moves up the stopper part 34 d 22 in connection withelastic deformation of the shutter deforming part 34 d 2, canceling thecontact state of the contact part 34 n 5. The stopper release part 34 d21 is the projection with slopes formed on both sides in thelongitudinal direction, which is formed between the stopper part 34 d 22and the connecting location (which is a connecting location of theshutter main part 34 d 1 and the shutter deforming parts 34 d 2).

The stopper release part 34 d 21 is interlocked with the attachingoperation of the toner container 32Y to the toner containeraccommodating part 70, and contacts the stopper release energizing part72 b (see FIG. 29) formed in the container receiving part 72. When it ispushed up by the stopper release energizing part 72 b, elasticdeformation of the shutter deforming part 34 d 2 is performed upward,and the stopper part 34 d 22 is moved up. In this way, the contact stateof the stopper part 34 d 22 and the contact part 34 n 5 is canceled, andmovement of the shutter member 34 d in the opening direction is allowed.

In the embodiment 1, the shutter deforming part 34 d 2 inclines towardthe lower part and is pushed up by the stopper release energizing part72 b. By elastic deformation of the shutter deforming part 34 d 2, theinclination is canceled and it is linear to the shutter main part 34 d1. Therefore, the amount in which two bend backward up to the shutterdeforming part 34 d 1 within the shutter accommodating part 34 n in theshutter main part 34 d decreases (or the amount bending backward becomeszero). Therefore, the problem of two contacting the container main part33Y in 34 d of shutter deforming parts contained in shutteraccommodating part 34 n will be prevented, and the space which is theshutter accommodating part 34 n will be utilized effectively.

Next, operation of the shutter member 34 d interlocked with theattaching operation of the toner container 32Y to the toner containeraccommodating part 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. 18A-18C.

The positions of the shutter member 34 d in FIG. 18A and FIG. 18C areequivalent to the positions of the shutter member 34 d in FIG. 15 andFIG. 16, respectively. As shown in FIG. 18A, the attaching operation(which is a movement to the right part in FIG. 18A) of the tonercontainer 32Y to the toner container accommodating part 70 is started.

When the stopper release part 34 d 21 of the shutter member 34 d has notarrived at the position of stopper release energizing part 72 b (FIG.29) formed in the container receiving part 72, the stopper part 34 d 22of the shutter member 34 d is in contact with the stopper part 34 n 5,and movement of the shutter member 34 d in the opening direction isregulated.

Subsequently, if the attaching operation of the toner container 32Yprogresses, as shown in FIG. 18B, the stopper release part 34 d 21 ispushed up by the stopper release energizing part 72 b and the shutterdeforming part 34 d 2 is elastically deformed on the basis of theconnecting location (the portion indicated by the dotted line). Thereby,the contact state of the stopper part 34 d 22 and the contact part 34 nis canceled, and relative movement of the shutter member 34 d in theopening direction is allowed.

Subsequently, the shutter member 34 d contacts the wall part (see FIG.29) formed in the circumference of the toner replenishment mouth 72 w ofthe cap receiving part 73. The movement in the toner containeraccommodating part 70 (the cap receiving part 73) is regulated (theshutter member 34 d will not move in the longitudinal directionabsolutely).

However, movement of the toner container 32Y in the mounting directionis advanced, relative movement of the shutter member 34 d in the openingdirection is performed.

As shown in FIG. 18C, the shutter member 34 d moves relatively to theside of the container main part 33Y, and the shutter deforming part 34 d2 is stored in the shutter accommodating part 34 n. In this way, openingof the toner outlet W is completed by the movement of the shutter member34 d in the opening direction. At this time, the stopper release part 34d 21 of the shutter member 34 d is stored in the opening 34 n 6 (seeFIG. 17) of the shutter accommodating part 34 n.

The toner container 32Y in the embodiment 1 has the shutter deformingpart 34 d 2 which performs elastic deformation of the shutter member 34d on the basis of the connecting location with the shutter main part 34d 1. The stopper part 34 d 22 which regulates movement of the shuttermember 34 d in the opening direction, and the stopper release part 34 d21 which cancels regulation of the movement are provided in the shutterdeforming part 34 d 2. When the toner container 32Y is in the isolatedstate, the toner outlet W is not freely opened by the shutter member 34d. Only when the toner container 32Y is attached to the image formingdevice body 100, the opening operation which causes the shutter member34 d to open the toner outlet W is interlocked with the attachingoperation of the toner container 32Y.

As shown in FIG. 20, at the upper part of the shutter rail 34 t, the rib34 p which has a vertical surface (or a vertical surface parallel to avirtual horizontal plane) on a virtual horizontal plane containing thevertical surface 34 s of the shutter rail 34 t is formed across thegroove to extend in the longitudinal direction. The rib 34 p is providedto keep the 1st pinching component 72 d 1 from entering the groove abovethe shutter rail 34 t when the vertical surface 34 s of the shutter rail34 t is pinched by the 1st sandwiching member 72 d 1 of the shutterclose mechanism 72 d (shutter pinching mechanism) shown in FIG. 43-FIG.45. Namely, the distance between the rib 34 p and the shutter rail 34 tis set up to be smaller than the height (in the vertical direction inFIG. 43) of the first sandwiching member 72 d 1.

If the rib 34 p is formed to extend in the longitudinal direction (thelongitudinal direction in FIG. 14) and to project sidewise (in thevertical direction in FIG. 14), the above function of the rib 34 p isperformed. It is not necessary that the rib 34 p has the verticalsurface mentioned above.

As shown in FIG. 25 and FIG. 26, one pair of sandwiching parts 34 d 11are formed at the head end in the mounting direction and the side edgeof the shutter main part 34 d 1 of the shutter member 34 d. As shown inFIG. 43-FIG. 45, the sandwiching parts 34 d 11 are pinched by the secondsandwiching member 72 d 2 (shutter pinching mechanism) of the shutterclose mechanism 72 d at the time of the opening/closing action of theshutter member 34 d.

The sandwiching parts 34 d 11 include the engagement wall 34 d 11 araised at the head end of the shutter main part 34 d 1 in the mountingdirection, the prevention wall 34 d 11 b formed above the sandwichingparts 34 d 11 to extend in parallel with the mounting direction, and theside wall 34 d 11 c.

At the time of the opening/closing action of the shutter member 34 d,the sandwiching parts 34 d 11 of the shutter member 34 d are pinched bythe second sandwiching member 72 d 2 of shutter close mechanism 72 d(shutter pinching mechanism) and the vertical surface 34 s of the cappart 34Y is pinched by the first sandwiching member 72 d 1 of theshutter close mechanism 72 d (shutter pinching mechanism). In this way,the posture of the cap part 34Y and the shutter member 34 d in the capreceiving part 73 at the time of the opening/closing action of theshutter member 34 d will be defined.

In the toner container 32Y in the embodiment 1, the stopper release part34 d 21 of the shutter member 34 d, as shown in FIG. 15, is disposed inthe main part 33Y side of a container of the longitudinal direction (onthe left-hand side of FIG. 14) to the non-compatible shape part 34 g ofthe cap part 34Y. That is, the stopper release part 34 d 21 is formed inthe left-hand side of FIG. 14 to the position in which thenon-compatible shape part 34 g is formed. If the color of the tonercontainer differs when performing the attaching operation of the tonercontainer 32Y as shown in FIG. 4, the non-compatible shape part 34 gprovided at the head of the cap part 34Y will contact without engagingwith the fitting part 73 c of the cap receiving part 73.

The problem that the toner with which the opening operation (releaseoperation of stopper part 34 d 22 by the stopper release part 34 d 21)of the shutter member 34 d with which it is covered is started, andcolor differs will turn to image forming device body 100, and will beaccidentally supplied from the toner outlet W is prevented certainly.The image forming device 100 in the embodiment 1 is constituted so thatslide movement may be performed horizontally (the longitudinaldirection) and the attaching operation may be completed, after the tonercontainer 34Y is laid from the upper part to the toner containeraccommodating part 70, as shown in FIG. 4.

It is necessary to judge the incompatibility of the toner container inthe position of the cap receiving part 73 in the toner containeraccommodating part 70. Therefore, the composition of providing thenon-compatible shape part 34 g at the head of the cap part 34Y asmentioned above will be useful. In the slide groove 34 n, the tonercontainer 32Y in the embodiment 1 has the shutter main part 34 d 1 inthe shutter member 34 d (the first rail part) and the shutter rail 34 t(the second rail part) as the rail parts for guiding the operation thatopens and closes the toner outlet W.

As shown in FIG. 20, the slide groove 34 n 1 (the first rail part) isformed to extend in the longitudinal direction so that the side of theshutter deforming part 34 d 2 in the shutter main part 34 d 1 may besupported. On the other hand, the side in which, the shutter rail 34 t(the second rail part) is formed to extend in the longitudinal directionso that the side of the shutter main part 34 d 1 apart from the shutterdeforming part 34 d 2 may be supported. That is, both sides of theshutter main part 34 d 1 in the longitudinal direction are supported bythe slide groove 34 n 1 (the first rail part) and the shutter rail 34 t(the second rail part).

As shown in FIG. 20, the longitudinal length (which is the length of thetoner container 32Y in the insertion direction) of the slide groove 34 n1 (the first rail part) formed in the shutter accommodating part 34 n issmaller than the longitudinal length of the shutter rail 34 t (thesecond rail part) in the longitudinal direction. The slide groove 34 d 1is formed so that the longitudinal length of the slide groove 34 d 1 issmaller than the length of the shutter slider 34 d 12 of the shuttermember 34 d.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 20, the shutter rail 34 t (the grooveinterposed between the vertical wall 34 s and the rib 34 p) is formedand the longitudinal length thereof is comparatively long and about15-20 mm. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, the slidegroove 34 n 1 is formed so that the longitudinal length thereof is about1-2 mm. This groove is the groove surrounded by the upper wall, the sidewall, and the lower wall as indicated the dotted line in FIG. 19 andFIG. 20). In the end of 1, 34 n of slide groove 34 n 1 become thesurface same inside cap part 34Y as other surface of the wall. That is,the longitudinal length of the slide grooves 34 n 1 is the same as thewall thickness of the cap part 34Y.

Alternatively, the cap part 34Y in the embodiment 1 may be constitutedso that the distance of the portion in which the shutter member 34 d aresupported the shutter main part 34 d 1 with operation which opens thetoner outlet W in 34 n of slide grooves, and the portion supported withshutter rail 34 t may become short.

As shown in FIG. 20, 34 n of slide grooves the position of 1 (it is aposition where 1 and shutter slider 34 d 12 contact in 34 n of slidegrooves), the distance (the distance in the longitudinal direction) ofthe position where the shutter rail 34 t and the shutter slider 34 d 12contact and becomes short gradually in connection with the openingoperation of the shutter member 34 d. Therefore, the state in which theshutter member 34 d opens the toner outlet W (in the state of FIG. 16and FIG. 17) is in the state in which the shutter deforming part 34 d 2is stored by the shutter accommodating part 34 n. The slide groove 34 n1 is supported the shutter main part 34 d 1 in the short span andshutter rail 34 t.

Therefore, when 1 is supported in the long span as for 34 d 1 of shuttermain parts (it is in the state of FIG. 15), it compares.

The shutter main part 34 d 1 in the sliding direction the degree of theshutter deforming part 34 d 2 (elastic deformation is performed by thecontact to the shutter accommodating part 34 n) elastic deformationwhich are connected to the end (end on the side of the container mainpart 33Y) as for the shutter main part 34 d 1 becomes small.

When this is continuously seen to compensate for the opening operationof the shutter member 34 d, the shutter deforming part 34 d 2 of shuttervariant-parts/two/amount of elastic deformation

It becomes the maximum when releasing of the stopper part 34 d 22 isperformed by the stopper release part 34 d 21 (it is a time of 21 beingpushed up by stopper release energizing part 72 b of the device bodypart 100 as for the stopper release part 34 d 21).

In the shutter main part 34 d 1 also dwindles the amount of elasticdeformation with gradual decrease of the span which is supported with 1and shutter rail 34 t in 34 n of slide grooves after that.

Even if the state (the state of FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, and two are storedby the shutter accommodating part 34 n in 34 d of shutter deformingparts) in which the shutter member 34 d have opened the toner outlet Wcontinues by such composition for a long time, the problem of plasticdeformation in the shutter member 34 d is prevented like the state(state of FIG. 15) where the shutter member 34 d have closed the toneroutlet W. Therefore, even after the opening/closing action of theshutter member 34 d is performed, the problem of leakage of toner fromthe circumference of the shutter member 34 d can be prevented.

Since the shutter deforming part 34 d 2 amount of elastic deformationgradually decreases in connection with the opening operation of theshutter member 34 d, the attaching operation (opening operation of theshutter member 34 d) of the toner container 32Y will also be performedsmoothly. When the shutter member 34 d opens the toner outlet W widethoroughly in the composition mentioned above (it is in the state ofFIG. 16 and FIG. 17), the portion which is supported with shutter rail34 t (the second rail part) the shutter main part 34 d 1 can secede fromshutter rail 34 t, supported the shutter main part 34 d 1 (the firstrail part) in 34 n of slide grooves, it can also constitute.

In that case, since is supported the shutter main part 34 d 1 in 34 n ofslide grooves and the shutter member 34 d can enlarge the amount ofloosening further in the state in which the toner outlet W is openedwide thoroughly, the shutter deforming part 34 d 2 amount of elasticdeformation also becomes still smaller and can make the effect mentionedabove more effective.

In the embodiment 1, with reference to FIG. 15, 34 n (container part) ofshutter accommodating parts, the 34 n of notches as a hole as for whichthe stopper release part 34 d 21 to the shutter accommodating part 34 nreduce the contact force of 21 in the position through which 21 passesin connection with the opening operation of the shutter member 34 d in34 d of the shutter deforming part 34 d 2 stopper release parts, 6 isformed. Thus, that for which 34 n of notches provide 6 (hole) in theshutter accommodating part 34 n, when two are stored by the shutteraccommodating part 34 n in 34 d of shutter deforming parts in connectionwith the opening operation of the shutter member 34 d, in the stopperrelease part 34 d 21, 21 will not contact the upper surface of theshutter accommodating part 34 n at all (not pressed). Therefore, theshutter deforming part 34 d 2 which is subjected to elastic deformationaccompanying the opening operation of the shutter member 34 d can bemade small.

In the embodiment 1, in order for the stopper release part 34 d 21 tothe shutter accommodating part 34 n to reduce the contact force of 21,the notch 34 n 6 (hole), but 34 n of notches can also establish a slotin the same range instead of 6 (hole).

Although the notch 34 n 6 (hole) formed in the position (range) throughwhich 21 passes in connection with the opening operation of the shuttermember 34 d in 34 d of the shutter deforming part 34 d 2 stopper releaseparts in the embodiment 1, a hole or a slot can also be formed in theposition which 21 stops with termination of the opening operation of theshutter member 34 d in the stopper release part 34 d 21.

In this case, the shutter deforming part 34 d 2 is in the state ofelastic deformation (the state of FIG. 16 and FIG. 17) where two arestored by the shutter accommodating part 34 n in the shutter deformingpart 34 d 2 can be made small.

The shutter accommodating part 34 n in the embodiment 1 is forperforming smoothly the opening/closing action of the shutter member 34d. Namely, that for which the shutter accommodating part 34 n areprovided in cap part 34Y, the state in which the shutter member 34 dhave opened the toner outlet W wide as well as the state in which thetoner outlet W is closed by the shutter member 34 d, in order to unitewith the cap part 34Y, without the shutter member 34 d projecting in thelower part from the cap part 34Y, the opening/closing action of theshutter member 34 d is performed smoothly.

In the cap part 34Y in the embodiment 1, the five claw parts 34 j aredisposed inside in the peripheral direction side by side in order tohold the container main part 33Y rotatably, as shown in FIG. 23. Theclaw parts 34 j are constituted so that one claw part 34 j is disposedin the upper part which faces the shutter accommodating part 34 n andall the claw parts 34 j are not disposed in the position of the shutteraccommodating part 34 n.

As mentioned above, the shutter accommodating part 34 n is the portionin which the shutter deforming part 34 d 2 is formed and the claw part34 j is not formed, and the space to the container main part 33Y becomeslarge. Therefore, at the bottom (where the shutter accommodating part 34n is provided) of the cap part 34Y, the force (restraining force) ofholding the container main part 33Y becomes small.

On the other hand, in the embodiment 1, the claw part 34 j is disposedin the upper part which faces the shutter accommodating part 34 n. Evenif the restraining force of the cap part 34Y to the lower part of thecontainer main part 33Y tends to be weak and the container main part 33Ytends to fall on in the sliding direction, the claw part 34 j disposedin the upper part which faces the shutter accommodating part 34 n to becanceled will hold the container main part 33Y. Therefore, the containermain part 33Y will be held with good balance by the cap part 34Ycovering the peripheral direction. As shown in FIG. 14, the lobe H formaking small the gap between the container main part 33Y is formed inthe position near the shutter accommodating part 34 n at the cap part34Y in the embodiment 1.

As mentioned above, even if the restraining force of the cap part 34Y tothe lower part of the container main part 33Y tends to be weak and thecontainer main part 33Y tends to fall on in the sliding direction, theoperation will be restricted because the lobe H of the cap part 34Ycontacts the container main part 33Y. Therefore, the container main part33Y will be held with good balance by the cap part 34Y.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 45, the toner outlet W of the cap part 34Ywhich is opened and closed by the shutter member 34 d is formed in theshape of a hexagon, when viewed from the vertical direction lower part.

The edge 34 r which projects to the lower part around the toner outlet Wis formed in cap part 34Y. This edge 34 r is formed in the longitudinaldirection in the pointed shaped toward the direction where the point 34r 1 of the both sides of the longitudinal direction (the longitudinaldirection in FIG. 45) separates from the center of the toner outlet W,respectively. The edge 34 r is an edge of the shape of a hexagon whichhas parallel portion 34 r 2 which faces mutually along the longitudinaldirection, and two vertical-angled parts 34 r 1 located in the pointwhich faces in the longitudinal direction. The toner outlet W is formedin the shape of a hexagon so that it may meet the hexagonal shape of theedge 34 r.

The point 34 r 1 of the longitudinal direction (which is also adirection in which the shutter member 34 d are opened and closed) of theedge 34 r around the toner outlet W is formed in the pointed shaped, andthe shutter seal 36 stuck on the shutter member 34 d and the slidecontact at the edge 34 r 1 is started by the pointed-shape point 34 r 1in a small area and the sliding contact surface product spreadsgradually when closing the shutter member 34 d. Thus, it is difficult toproduce peeling and breakage on shutter seal 36 by contact with edge 34r. Since the sliding contact surface product with edge 34 r narrowsgradually also when opening the shutter member 34 d, the damage toshutter seal 36 by contact with edge 34 r decreases.

As shown in FIG. 46, the seal member 76 which also becomes thecircumference of the toner replenishment mouth 72 w of the cap receivingpart 73 from foamed resin material is stuck, and toner scattering fromtoner replenishment mouth 72 w which is open for free passage to thetoner outlet W of the toner container 32Y is prevented. Even if the edge34 r of the cap part 34Y slides with the attaching operation of thetoner container 32Y in the longitudinal direction to the seal member 76installed in the circumference of the toner replenishment mouth 72 w,the slide contact to the edge 34 r 1 and seal member 76 is started bythe point 34 r 1 in a small area and the sliding contact surface productspreads gradually, and it becomes difficult to produce peeling andbreakage in seal member 76 of the toner replenishment mouth 72 w bycontact with edge 34 r.

Since the sliding contact surface product of seal member 76 of the tonerreplenishment mouth 72 w and edge 34 r narrows gradually also whenperforming detaching operation of the longitudinal direction of thetoner container 32Y, the damage to seal member 76 of the tonerreplenishment mouth 72 w by contact with edge 34 r decreases.

Therefore, the problem that the toner stored in the toner container 32Ydisperses outside with the attaching/detaching operation of the tonercontainer 32Y to the device body part 100 is prevented.

As shown in FIG. 16, in the embodiment 1, the edge 34 r of the cap part34Y is formed in tapered shape so that the amount which projects to alower part may gradually decrease, as the surface (which is a surfaceadjacent to the point 34 r 1) turned to in the longitudinal direction(which is the longitudinal direction in FIG. 45) is separated from thecenter of the toner outlet W.

If the shutter seal 36 stuck on the shutter member 34 d with theattaching/detaching operation of the longitudinal direction of the tonercontainer 32Y is worn with the edge 34 r, it is possible to prevent thedamage on the shutter seal 36. If the seal member 76 (see FIG. 46)provided in the circumference of the toner replenishment mouth 72 w ofthe cap receiving part 73 is worn with the edge 34 r with theattaching/detaching operation of the longitudinal direction of the tonercontainer 32Y, it is possible to prevent the damage in the seal member76.

In the embodiment 1, the toner which satisfies the followingrequirements is used in the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C and 32K.Assuming that Dn (micrometer) denotes the number average particlediameter and Dv (micrometer) denotes the volume average particlediameter, the requirements for the toner are represented by thefollowing.3<=Dv<=8  (1)1.00<=Dv/Dn<=1.40  (2)

By using the toner satisfying the requirements of the above formulas,selection of the toner particles according to an image pattern isperformed at the time of a developing process and good image quality ismaintained, even if the toner is agitated in the developing device for along time, good development characteristic is maintained. The toner willbe delivered efficiently and certainly, without blocking the tonerreplenishment passage of the tube 71.

Typically, measurement of the volume average particle diameter and thenumber average particle diameter of the toner can be performed using the“Coulter counter TA-2” (made by Coulter company) or the “Coultermultisizer 2” (made by Coulter company).

In the embodiment 1, the spherical shape particle toner which is formedso that the shape factor SF-1 is in a range of 100-180 and the shapefactor SF-2 is in a range of 100-180 is used as the toner contained inthe toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C and 32K. Lowering of cleaningperformance can be prevented this maintaining high transfer efficiency.The toner will be delivered efficiently and certainly, without blockingthe toner replenishment passage of the tube 71.

The shape factor SF-1 represents the spheroidicity of the tonerparticles, and can be determined in accordance with the followingformula.SF-1=(M ² /S)×(100πi/4)In the above formula, M is a maximum grain size in the plane ofprojection of the toner particles, and S is the area of the plane ofprojection of the toner particles. Therefore, the toner particles whoseshape factor SF-1 is 100 are true spheres, and the spheroidicity isreduced as the shape factor is increased from 100.

The shape factor SF-2 represents the degree of unevenness of the tonerparticles, and it can be determined in accordance with the followingformula.SF-2=(N ² /S)×(100/4π)

In the above formula, N is a circumference in the plane of projection ofthe toner particles, and S is the area of the plane of projection of thetoner particles. Therefore, the toner particles whose shape factor SF-2is equal to 100 do not have unevenness, and the unevenness is increasedas the shape factor is increased from 100.

The shape factor SF-1 and the shape factor SF-2 are determined by theanalysis and search of the photographic image of the toner particlescaptured with the scanning electron microscope “S-800” (made by Hitachi,Ltd.) with the image analyzing device “LUSEX3” (made by Nireco Corp).

Next, the toner container accommodating part 70 (the container receivingpart 72, the cap receiving part 73) will be described with reference toFIGS. 29-46.

As shown in FIG. 4, the container receiving part 72 and the capreceiving part 73 are formed in the toner container accommodating part70.

As shown in FIG. 29 and FIG. 30, the bottle abutment 72 a is formed inthe container receiving part 72 for every color. The container receivingpart 73 is formed also in the cap receiving part 73 for every color, thetoner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K corresponding to each areinserted (it is insertion of a white arrow direction), and each cap partis held by non rotation by each the container receiving part 72.

In FIGS. 29, 30, 34-36, and 40-42, in order to illustrate thecomposition of the container receiving part 72, the illustration of somecap parts is omitted among the four cap receiving parts 72.

As shown in FIGS. 29-31, the bottle abutment 72 a, the stopper releaseenergizing part 72 b, the shutter close mechanism 72 d as a shutterpinching mechanism, the toner replenishment mouth 72 w, the seal member76, etc. are formed in the container receiving part 72 of the tonercontainer accommodating part 70.

The bottle abutment 72 a functions as a sliding surface of the tonercontainer 32Y at the time of the attaching/detaching operation of thetoner container 32Y, and after the set of the toner container 32Y iscompleted, it functions as the maintenance part of the container mainpart 33Y to rotate.

The stopper release energizing part 72 b is a rib of the trapezoidalshape formed in the cap receiving part 73 side (it is a mountingdirection lower stream side of the toner container 32Y) in the bottleabutment 72 a.

The stopper release energizing part 72 b is for being interlocked withthe attaching operation of the toner container 32Y, the stopper releasepart 34 d 21 of shutter member 34Y pushing up 21, and 34 d of stopperpart 22 and 34 n of contact parts canceling the contact state of 5 (itis for making possible opening operation of the shutter member 34 d).

As shown in FIGS. 29-31, 43-45, 72 d (shutter pinching mechanism) ofshutter close mechanisms are the positions on the container receivingpart 72 covered with the cap receiving part 73, and are disposed in themounting direction upstream side of the toner container 32Y to tonerreplenishment mouth 72 w.

The shutter close mechanism 72 d are one pair of components of thehorseshoe shape disposed so that the sliding direction of FIG. 43 mightbe faced, and the pivot parts 72 d 3 are disposed to be rotatable aroundthe torsion coil spring.

The first sandwiching part 72 d 1 is formed in the one end side, and 72d (shutter pinching mechanism) of shutter close mechanisms are formed inthe other end side in 72 d 2 of the second sandwiching part.

At the time of the opening/closing action of the shutter member 34 d inthe toner container 32Y as explained previously, the two second pinchingcomponents 72 d 11 are pinched to the sandwiching parts 34 d 1 of theshutter member 34 d, and the vertical surfaces 34 s of the cap part 34Yare pinched to the first pinching components 72 d 1. The shutter member34 d in the cap receiving part 73 at the time of the opening/closingaction of the shutter member 34 d and the posture of the cap part 34Yare defined, and a smooth opening/closing action becomes possible.

Operation of the shutter close mechanism 72 d (shutter pinchingmechanism) accompanying the opening/closing action of the shutter member34 d will be described later with reference to FIGS. 43-45.

As shown in FIGS. 29-33, the cap receiving part 73 of the tonercontainer accommodating part 70 is provided with the main reference pin73 a, sub-reference pin 73 b, fitting part 73 c, the pressing part 73 d,the engagement part 73 m, antenna 73 e (the RFID antenna), drive gear81, bearing 73 k, etc.

As explained using FIG. 11, the main reference pin 73 a and thesub-reference pin 73 b are engaged with the first hole 34 a and thesecond hole 34 b of the cap part 34Y, respectively. Positioning of thecap part 34Y in the cap receiving part 73 is performed.

Here, with reference to FIG. 32 and FIG. 46, the main reference pin 73 ais formed in the longitudinal direction for a long time rather thansub-reference pin 73 b (the position of the datum level used as a rootpart is formed on the same flat surface).

The main reference pin 73 a and sub-reference pin 73 b are installed inthe longitudinal direction (it is a path of insertion of the tonercontainer 32Y) by each. The point tapers off and the main reference pin73 a has form.

When performing the attaching operation of the toner container 32Y tothe cap receiving part 73 in the longitudinal direction, a smoothattaching operation of the toner container 32Y to the cap receiving part73 is allowed. The engagement parts 73 m are engaged with the firstengagement part 34 e and 34 f (specification part) of the secondengagement part which are formed in cap part 34Y of the toner container32Y.

While the posture of the cap part 34Y is regulated and cap part 34Y isdetached and attached to the cap receiving part 73 by this, the postureof the cap part 34Y in the state in which the cap receiving part 73 isequipped with cap part 34Y is regulated. The fitting part 73 c isengaged with the non-compatible shape part 34 g formed in the point ofthe cap part 34Y of the toner container 32Y. Thus, that for which thefitting part 73 c corresponding to the non-compatible shape part 34 g ofthe toner container 32Y is formed in the cap receiving part 73

The nonconformity by which wrong setting of the toner container (forexample, it is the toner container of yellow) of different color isperformed to the toner container accommodating part (for example, it isthe toner container accommodating part of cyan) of predetermined coloris prevented.

Here, the fitting part 73 c is formed in the side near the containerreceiving part 72 of the longitudinal direction in the cap receivingpart 73 with reference to FIG. 32. Since the non-compatible shape part34 g provided at the head of the cap part 34Y will interfere by this,without engaging with fitting part 73 c of the cap receiving part 73first of all, the problem that the toner with which the openingoperation of the shutter member 34 d with which the toner outlet W ofthe cap part 34Y is covered is started, and color differs will turn toimage forming device body 100, and will be accidentally supplied fromthe toner outlet W is prevented certainly.

The image forming device 100 in the embodiment 1 is constituted so thatslide movement may be performed horizontally (the longitudinaldirection) and the attaching operation may be completed, after the tonercontainer 34Y is laid from the upper part to the toner containeraccommodating part 70, as shown in FIG. 4. It is necessary to judge theincompatibility of the toner container in the cap receiving part 73 inthe position near the container receiving part 73. Therefore, thecomposition of forming fitting part 73 c in the side near the containerreceiving part 72 as mentioned above becomes useful.

In the attaching operation of the toner container 32Y so that stopperrelease energizing part 72 b may engage with 21 in the stopper releasepart 34 d 21 of the cap part 34Y after the non-compatible shape part 34g of the cap part 34Y fit into fitting part 73 c, the positionalrelationship of stopper release energizing part 72 b and fitting part 73c is set up.

Since the opening operation of 45 d of shutter members will be performedby this after a judgment of incompatibility is made, the effect whichdeters the problem to which the toner which prevents the wrong settingof the toner container mentioned above, and with which color differs issupplied will become still more positive.

It is for bearing 73 k supporting the driving shaft of drive gear 81 inactuator 91 free rotation to the cap receiving part 73 with reference toFIGS. 31-33 and FIG. 40.

The antenna 73 e is installed in the end face on the side of the back inthe cap receiving part 73.

This antenna 73 e is for performing non-contact wireless communicationswhich are installed in the end face of the cap part 34Y of the tonercontainer 32Y, and the RFID chip 35 (see FIG. 5 and FIG. 9).

As shown in FIGS. 31-33, the pressing parts 73 d of the cap receivingpart 73 are the mounting direction lower stream sides of the tonercontainer 32Y, and are installed in both side walls of the containerreceiving part 73. As shown in FIG. 31-FIG. 33, the pressing part 73 dincludes the slide block 73 d 1 and the torsion spring 73 d 2.

With reference to FIG. 33, the slide block 73 d 1 is formed so that theinclination 73 d 12 on the side of the back is smaller than theinclination 73 d 11 on the side of the container receiving part 72. Theslide block 73 d 1 is preferably a one-piece component which is molded,formed, or machined out of plastic, resin, Teflon, or other desirablematerial, for example, although multi-piece slide blocks can be used, ifdesired. Thereby, the user can perform the attaching/detaching operationsmoothly during the attaching/detaching operation of the toner container32Y to the cap receiving part 73, obtaining a high click feeling, whichindicates the container is securely mounted.

Slide block 73 d 1 includes a recess (hollow part) 73 d 13 which holdsor receives the end of torsion spring 73 d 2. The slide block 73 d 1 isinserted in the insertion opening 73 d 6 of the cap receiving part 73 asshown in FIG. 31, and the coil part of torsion spring 73 d 2 is insertedin the shank 73 d 5 of the cap receiving part 73. The other end of thetorsion spring 73 d 2 is held against the block or protrusion 73 d 7 ofthe cap receiving part 73.

The torsion spring 73 d 2 is an elastic body which urges the slide block73 d 1 towards the pressing part. Alternative elastic bodies may be usedsuch as other types of springs or elastic elements such as a coilspring, a leaf spring, or a compression spring. Further, the elasticbody can be made out of metal, plastic, or resin, or any other suitablematerial.

By this composition, energization or urging of each slide block 73 dwill be in the arrow direction (which faces the toner container 32Y) ofFIG. 37 due to the spring force of torsion spring 73 d 2. Therefore, theuser can get a high click feeling in the attaching operation (ordetaching operation) of the toner container 32Y to the cap receivingpart 73. Moreover, the toner container is secured in position by thesurface 73 d 12 of the slide block 73 d 1.

FIGS. 34-36 are diagrams showing the state in which the cap part 34Y ofthe toner container 32Y is attached to the cap receiving part 73 of thetoner container accommodating part 70. FIGS. 37-39 are diagrams showingthe state in which the pressing part 34 c of the toner container 32Yengages with the pressing part 73 d of the cap receiving part 73 andattached to the cap receiving part 73. FIGS. 40-42 are diagrams showingthe state in which the cap part 34Y of the toner container 32Y isattached to the cap receiving part 73.

As shown in FIG. 34, FIG. 37, and FIG. 40, after being set on thecontainer receiving part 72, a sliding movement of the toner container32Y results from the container being pushed in toward the cap receivingpart 73.

As shown in FIG. 35, FIG. 38, and FIG. 41, the pressing part 34 c of thetoner container 32Y will initially contact the slope 73 d 11 of theslide block 73 d 1. During insertion of the toner container 32Y, thepressing part 34 c initially slides on the slope of 73 d 11 of the slideblock 73 d 1, and moves the slide block 73 d 1 in the direction which isopposite to the arrow direction of FIG. 37. Thus, the spring force ofthe torsion spring 34 d 2 is initially used to resist the insertion ofthe toner container to the mounted position by the pressing part 34 cpressing against the slope 73 d 11.

Once the pressing part 34 c crosses the peak of the slide block 73 d 1as shown in FIG. 36, FIG. 39, and FIG. 42, the pressing part 34 c willcontact the slope 73 d 12 of the slide block 73 d 1. At this time, theslide block 73 d 1 moves in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 37 bythe torsion spring 34 d 2, and the cap part 34Y will move to the backside of the cap receiving part 73.

In this way, the cap part 34Y arrives at the position (regular fixingpoint) where the toner outlet W corresponds to toner replenishment mouth72 w.

When the slide block 73 d 1 contacts the peak of the slope of pressingpart 34 c, the slide block 73 d 1 presses pressing part 34 c in thedirection which intersects vertically in the longitudinal direction.

Thus, when the pressing part 34 c contacts the slope 73 d 11, thetorsion spring 73 d 2 resists the insertion of the toner container 32Y.Once the pressing part 34 c transitions to the slope 73 d 12, thetorsion spring assists or helps pull the toner container 32Y to themounted position and assists in holding the toner container at themounted position.

During the attaching operation of the toner container 32Y, the userinserts the toner container 32Y in the cap receiving part 73, feeling asmall resistance immediately after the operation starts. A strongerresistance is felt when the slide block 34 d 1 is pressed by pressingpart 34 c. Subsequently, when the slide block 34 d 1 crosses the peak ofthe pressing part 34 c, there is a feeling of less resistance and afeeling that the toner container 32Y is pulled to its final position andfirmly fitted in at the back side. Thus, in the attaching operation ofthe toner container 32Y, cap part 34Y of the toner container 32Y,improper installation can be avoided as compared to conventional systemswhich do not provide a clear click feeling.

As shown in FIG. 39, the slope or angle of 73 d 11 of the slide block 73d 1 is less than or not as steep as the slope or angle of 73 d 12 of theslide block 73 d 1. This steeper slope 73 d 12 which is deeper orfurther in the cap receiving part 73 than the more gradual slope 73 d 11provides a firm clicking action, helps pull the toner container 32Y intothe cap receiving part 73, and securely holds the toner container 32Y inthe cap receiving part 73. This means that during insertion less forceis required, but it is applied over a longer distance, as compared towhen the toner container 32Y starts to be removed from the receiver.Moreover, the slopes of the contact surfaces of the pressing part 34 cmay be different from each other and correspond to the slopes or anglesof the slide block 73 d 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 39, the slopeor angle of 73 d 12 corresponds to the slope or angle of 34 c 12, andthe slope or angle of 73 d 11 correspond to the slope or angle of 34 c11. Such corresponding angles or slopes may reduce wear on 73 d 11, 73 d12, 34 c 11, and 34 c 12 by increasing the surface area of the contactregion between 34 c and 73 d 1.

When one pair of pressing parts 73 d contacts a corresponding pair ofpressing parts 34 c as shown in FIG. 38, the vector (which is a vectorof the force shown by the arrow in FIG. 38) of the force of the pair ofpressing parts 73 d acting on the pair of corresponding pressing parts34 c is symmetric about the rotation axis of the container main part33Y. Therefore, when one pair of pressing parts 34 c are pressed by acorresponding pair of pressing parts 73 d at the time of attachment anddetachment of the toner container 32Y, the cap part 34Y will beuniformly pressed in directions corresponding to the arrows of FIG. 38.According to an embodiment, a pressing part 34 c and corresponding slideblock 73 d 1 are considered a pair of contact parts. Therefore, theproblem that the cap part 34Y is pressed unequally, torsion arises onthe cap seal 37 installed between the cap part 34Y and the containermain part 33Y, and the sealing characteristic between the components 33Yand 34Y falls is prevented. Alternatively, the system can be implementedsuch that there is only one slide block 73 d 1 which interacts with onepressing part 34 c, and such an implementation would have a mechanism toprevent the toner container from shifting or rotating during insertion.Thus, the embodiment achieves a good balance, and a smooth detachingoperation of the toner container 32Y becomes possible.

The pressing parts 34 c are illustrated as having two surfaces whichcontact the slide blocks 73 d 1. However, according to an alternativeembodiment, different shapes of the pressing parts 34 c may be utilized.For example, the pressing part 34 c may have one contacted surface whichis flat, pointed, or rounded. Further, the pressing part 34 c may havethree or more contact surfaces.

Additionally, the pressing parts 34 c are protrusions which are mountedon the cap, and the cap is part of the toner container. Thus, thepressing parts are also considered to be mounted on the toner container.In embodiment 1, the attaching operation of the toner container 32Yproceeds as shown in FIG. 46. The timing at which the pressing part 73 dof the cap receiving part 73 starts engagement with the pressing part 34c of the cap part 34Y is after the main reference pin 73 a of the capreceiving part 73 starts engagement with the main reference hole 34 a ofthe cap part 34Y.

While the opening of the main reference hole 34 a is formed in the headpart rather than the peak of pressing part 34 c in cap part 34Y,specifically, the main reference pin 73 a is installed in the containerreceiving part 72 side rather than the position in which slide block 34d 1 is installed in the cap receiving part 73.

Since the pressing of the pressing part 34 c by the pressing parts 73 dis started after the position of the cap part 34Y in the cap receivingpart 73 is settled or started, when one pair of pressing parts 34 c arepressed by the corresponding pair of pressing parts 73 d at the time ofattachment and detachment of the toner container 32Y, the cap part 34Ywill be uniformly pressed in the sliding direction of FIG. 38.

FIGS. 43-45 are diagrams showing operation of the shutter closemechanism 72 d (shutter pinching mechanism) accompanying theopening/closing action of the shutter member 34 d, and operation of thepressing parts 73 d.

As shown in FIG. 43, after the attaching operation of the tonercontainer 32Y in the white arrow direction is performed, at the time ofthe opening operation of the shutter member 34 d, the first sandwichingmember 72 d 1 contacts the height 34 m and the second sandwiching member72 d 2 contacts the part 34 d 11 of the shutter member 34 d.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 44, if the attaching operation of thetoner container 32Y progress in the white arrow direction, the shutterclose mechanism 72 d (shutter pinching mechanism) is rotated around thepivot part 72 d 3. The first pinching component 72 d 1 pinches thevertical wall 34 s of the height 34 m of the cap part 34Y. The secondsandwiching member 72 d 2 is engaged with the sandwiching partengagement wall 34 d 11 a of the shutter member 34 d, and pinches theside wall 34 d 11 c of the shutter main part 34 d 1 (the sandwichingpart 34 d 11). Then, the shutter member 34 d contacts the wall part (seeFIG. 29) formed in the circumference of the toner replenishment mouth 72w of the cap receiving part 73.

The movement of the shutter member 34 d in the cap receiving part 73 isregulated (the shutter member 34 d will not move in the longitudinaldirection absolutely). However, the movement of the mounting directionof the toner container 32Y is advanced, and relative movement of theopening direction of the shutter member 34 d is performed.

That is, as shown in FIG. 45, the shutter member 34 d is movedrelatively to the side of the container main part 33Y, and opening ofthe toner outlet W is performed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 45, thefirst pinching component 72 d 1 pinches the vertical wall 34 s of thecap part 34Y. Since the posture of the cap part 34Y the shutter member34 d is defined, smooth opening operation of the shutter member 34 d ispossible.

On the other hand, operation is performed by the procedure contrary tothe procedure at the time of the attaching operation when carrying outextraction (the detaching operation) of the toner container 32Y from thetoner container accommodating part 70 (the cap receiving part 73). Thatis, operation of 72 d (shutter pinching mechanism) of shutter closemechanisms accompanying closing operation of the shutter member 34 d isperformed in the order of FIG. 45, FIG. 44, and FIG. 43. Here, since 34s of vertical wall which function by the embodiment 1 with reference toFIG. 45 as a pinching side which is pinched by 1 as for 72 d of thefirst sandwiching part have 34 m of heights, they are installed in amounting direction (method of the right of FIG. 45) for a long time.

As opposed to the timing to which the shutter close mechanism 72 d closethe shutter member 34 d thoroughly when taking out toner container 32Yfrom the toner container accommodating part 70, 72 d (72 d 2 of thesecond sandwiching part) of shutter close mechanisms can delay thetiming which cancels maintenance of 34 d (34 d of sandwiching parts 11)of shutter members on the basis of 34 s of vertical wall.

That is, when closing operation of the shutter member 34 d is performed(it is relative movement of the shutter member 34 d from a state to thestate of FIG. 44 of FIG. 45), it is formed for a long time so that 34 s(34 m of heights) of vertical wall may project in the method of theright of FIG. 44. In the state in which pinch 34 s of vertical wallwhose 1 is 34 m of heights, and 34 d of sandwiching parts whose two arethe shutter member 34 d in 72 d of the second sandwiching part hold 11,72 d of the first sandwiching part can end thoroughly closing operationof the shutter member 34 d, without the shutter close mechanism 72 drotating, as shown in FIG. 43.

In the embodiment 1, the cap part 34Y has the height 34 m, and theproblem that the toner container 32Y is taken out from the device bodypart 100 before the shutter member 34 d close the toner outlet Wthoroughly is prevented.

As shown in FIGS. 43-45, it is constituted the embodiment 1 so that thetiming the force of the pressing part 73 d pressing the cap part 34Y isthe maximum in the attaching/detaching operation of the toner container32Y may not be in agreement with the timing the stopper releaseenergizing part 72 b is engaged with the stopper release part 34 d 21.Hence, the click feeling at the time of the detaching operation by thepressing part 34 c mentioned above can be obtained.

As shown in FIGS. 43-45, it is constituted in the embodiment 1 so that,at the time of the attaching of the toner container 32Y (cap part 34Y)to the toner container accommodating part 70, after the openingoperation of the shutter member 34 d is started with the pinchingoperation of the shutter member 34 d by the shutter close mechanism 72 d(shutter pinching mechanism), operation of the pressing part 73 dpressing the pressing part 34 c may be started. At the time of thedetaching operation of the toner container 32Y (cap part 34Y) from thetoner container accommodating part 70, after operation 73 d of whosepressing parts press pressing part 34 c is completed and the pressingpart 73 d estrange from pressing part 34 c, it is constituted so thatpinching of the shutter member 34 d by 72 d (shutter pinching mechanism)of shutter close mechanisms in closing operation of the shutter member34 d may be opened wide. In the time of the attaching of the tonercontainer 32Y when pinching operation of the shutter member 34 d by 72 d(shutter pinching mechanism) of shutter close mechanisms is started, thecap part 34Y will not receive the thrust from the pressing part 73 d,and opening operation of the shutter member 34 d accompanying pinchingoperation of 72 d (shutter pinching mechanism) of shutter closemechanisms mentioned above will be performed smoothly (the open defectof the shutter member 34 d will not arise). When pinching operation ofthe shutter member 34 d by the shutter close mechanism 72 d is completedin the time of detachment of the toner container 32Y, the cap part 34Ywill not receive the thrust from the pressing part 73 d, and closingoperation of the shutter member 34 d accompanying pinching operation ofthe shutter close mechanism 72 d mentioned above will be performedsmoothly (poor closing of the shutter member 34 d will not arise).

Accordingly, the attaching/detaching operation of the toner container34Y can be performed smoothly, and the sealing characteristic of thecontainer main part 33Y and the cap part 34Y can be maintained at highlevel, without enlarging the cap part 34Y.

Embodiment 2

FIGS. 47-51 are diagrams for explaining the embodiment 2 of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 47 is a diagram showing a part of the toner container32Y in the embodiment 2. FIGS. 48 and 49 are exploded diagrams showingthe cap part 34Y of FIG. 47, respectively. FIG. 50 is a diagram showingthe cap part 34Y after welding of the first member 34Y1 and the secondmember 34Y2 is performed. FIG. 51 is a diagram showing the inside of thecap part 34Y in toner container 32Y.

The toner container in the embodiment 2 differs from that of theembodiment 1 (in which the cap part is formed by integral molding) inthat the cap part is formed by welding of two molding members.

The toner container 32Y in the embodiment 2 is constituted similar tothat of the embodiment 1 to include the container main part 33Y (bottlebody) and the cap part 34Y provided in the head of the container mainpart. The toner container 32Y further includes the stirring member 33 f,the cap seal 37, the shutter member 34 d, the shutter seal 36, and theRFID 35, in addition to the container main part 33Y, and the cap part34Y.

Unlike that of the embodiment 1, the cap part 34Y (from which the capseal 37, the shutter member 34 d, the shutter seal 36, and the RFID 35are taken out) in the second embodiment 2 is formed by welding (oradhesion) of the two molding members 34Y1 and 34Y2.

The cap part 34Y includes the first member 34Y1 and the second member34Y2. The toner outlet W, the pressing part 34 c, and the adhesionsurface 34 v to stick the cap seal 37 are formed in the first member34Y1. In the second member 34Y2, a small-diameter portion 34Y2 d whichcovers a part of the first member 34Y1, and a large-diameter portion(which is the portion in which the accommodating part 34 z is formed)which has an outer diameter larger than that of the small-diameterportion 34Y2 d, are formed. The upper part (the portion in which themain reference hole 34 a is formed) of the first member 34Y1, the sidepart 34Y1 b (the portion in which the pressing part 34 c is formed) ofthe first member 34Y1, and the bottom (the portion in which the toneroutlet W is formed) of the first member 34Y1 are respectively insertedin the notches 34Y2 a, 34Y2 b, and 34Y2 c of the second member 34Y2, andthe small-diameter portion 34Y2 d of the second member 34Y2 is bonded tothe junction 34Y1 a of the first member 34Y1 (welding).

As shown in FIG. 47 and FIG. 50, the pressing part 34 c of the firstmember 34Y1 is formed so that it may fall within the range of the outerdiameter of the small-diameter portion 34Y2 d of the second member 34Y2.That is, when the cap part 34Y is viewed in the plane of projectionwhich intersects vertically in the longitudinal direction, the pressingpart 34 c of the first member 34Y1 is constituted so that it may notproject from the perimeter of the small-diameter portion 34Y2 d of thesecond member 34Y2. The adhesion surface 34 v of the first member 34Y1is formed so that it may be settled within the range of the insidediameter of the small-diameter portion 34Y2 d of the second member 34Y2.Thus, enlargement (the large diameter part) of the cap part 34Y by thepressing part 34 c which projects from the outer circumference surfaceof the cap part 34Y can be prevented by making the outer diameter of thecap part 34Y fall into the range of the perimeter of the small-diameterportion 34Y2 d of the second member 34Y2.

The cap part 34Y in the embodiment 2 includes the two molding members34Y1 and 34Y2. When compared with that of the embodiment 1 (in which thecap part is formed by one molding member), the arrangement of therespective parts, such as the claw part 34 j, the non-compatible shapepart 34 g, the pressing part 34 c, the toner outlet W, and the tonerdrop passage C, becomes more flexible.

In the toner container in the embodiment 2, the positional relationshipin the longitudinal direction between the cap seal 37 (which isinstalled between the container main part 33Y and the cap part 34Y) andthe pressing part 34 c which projects on the outer circumference surfaceof the cap part 34Y and is pressed in the direction which resists theforce of the mounting direction when the cap part 34Y is attached to theimage forming device body 100, is optimized. Thereby, theattaching/detaching operation of the toner container 34Y can beperformed smoothly, maintaining the high sealing characteristic of thecontainer main part 33Y and the cap part 34Y, without enlarging the cappart 34Y.

Embodiment 3

FIGS. 52-55 are diagrams for explaining the embodiment 3 of the presentdisclosure. The composition of the stirring member 33 f in the tonercontainer in the embodiment 3 is different from that of the embodiment1.

The toner container 32Y in the embodiment 3 as well as that of theembodiment 1 comes out mainly with main part 33Y (bottle body) of acontainer, and cap part 34Y (bottle cap) provided in the head, and isconstituted. The toner container 32Y in the embodiment 3 besides thecontainer main part 33Y and the cap part 34Y, is decomposed into theRFID chip 35 as shutter seal 36 as the stirring part 33 f, cap seal 37,the shutter member 34 d, and a seal member, and electronic data storagemedium (see FIG. 9).

The fit of the stirring member 33 f which rotate the toner container 32Yin the embodiment 3 as well as that of the embodiment 1 with thecontainer main part 33Y is performed to bottle mouth part 33 a (openingA). It is pressed fit in the bottle mouth part 33 a (opening A) whichtwo show in FIG. 9 in 33 f of fitting parts of the stirring part 33 fwith reference to FIGS. 52-54C.

As for one pair of tabular members 33 f of installed to the inside ofthe container main part 33Y by the stirring part 33 f in the embodiment3 from the hollow part B in cap part 34Y, 1 is provided as shown inFIGS. 52-54C. The tabular member 33 f 1 of the stirring member 33 f isinclined like the embodiment 1, respectively. The stirring members 33 fare constituted so that the head (it is the side in which 10 is formedas for the extrusion plate 33 f 10) may arrive above the toner outlet Win cap part 34Y when cap part 34Y and the container main part 33Y areattached, and the back end (end of the opposite side) may pump up andthe part (the portion indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 9 and FIG.10) may be reached.

The toner ejection characteristic from the opening A improves becausethe stirring part 33 f is rotated with the opening A of the containermain part 33Y.

As shown in FIGS. 52-54C, the stirring member 33 f in the embodiment 3includes the extrusion plate 33 f 10 at the head of the tabular member33 f 1 (on the side toward the cap part 34Y) unlike to the embodiment 1.The extrusion plate 33 f 10 is a plate member which is raised in avertical direction from the body part of the tabular member 33 f 1 andhas the taper part 34 f 100 formed in the outer circumference part ofthe extrusion board 33 f 10.

Thus, because of the extrusion plate 33 f 10 provided at the head of thetabular member 33 f 1 in the stirring part 33 f, the toner is pushed tothe toner outlet W in the cap part 34Y with rotation of the stirringpart 33 f in the extrusion plate 33 f 10 to prevent the toner from beingblocked near the toner outlet W (the toner drop passage C), and smoothtoner ejection from the toner outlet W is allowed.

FIG. 55A is a diagram for explaining the state in which the stirringmember 33 f in which in which the pushing plate 33 f 10 is disposed (theembodiment 3) is rotated in the toner container 32Y. Changes of thestate of the stirring member 33 f of the embodiment 3 during therotation are indicated by (1)-(4) in FIG. 55A. On the other hand, FIG.55B is a diagram for explaining the state in which the stirring member33 f in which the pushing plate 33 f 10 is not disposed (theembodiment 1) is rotated in the toner container 32Y. Changes of thestate of the stirring member 33 f of the embodiment 1 during therotation are indicated by (1)-(4) in FIG. 55B.

In (1) in FIG. 55A and (1) in FIG. 55B, the toner transporting directionin which the toner is delivered to the toner outlet W (the tonerreplenishment mouth 73 w) by the stirring member 33 f is indicated bythe small black arrow.

As shown in (1) in FIG. 55B, when the pushing plate 33 f 10 is notdisposed to the tabular member 33 f 1 of the stirring member 33 f, thetoner is delivered along with the inner periphery of the cap part 34Ywith the rotation of the stirring member 33 f. On the other hand, asshown (1) in FIG. 55A, when the pushing plate 33 f 10 is disposed to thehead end of the tabular member 33 f 1 of the stirring member 33 f, thetoner is delivered to the toner outlet W by the pushing plate 33 f 10with the rotation of the stirring member 33 f.

Similar to the embodiment 1, in the toner container 32Y of theembodiment 3, the positional relationship in the longitudinal directionbetween the cap seal 37 (which is disposed between the container mainpart 33Y and the cap part 34Y) and the pressing part 34 c which projectson the outer circumference surface of the cap part 34Y (which projectionis pressed in the direction opposite to the direction of the mountingforce when the cap part 34Y is attached to the image forming device body100) is optimized. Thereby, in the embodiment 3, the attaching/detachingoperation of the toner container 34Y can be smoothly performed similarto the embodiment 1, and the sealing characteristic of the containermain part 33Y and the cap part 34Y can be maintained at a high levelwithout enlarging the cap part 34Y in size.

Embodiment 4

FIGS. 56-58 are diagrams for explaining the embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The toner container in the embodiment 4 differs from that ofthe embodiment 3 in that the flexible member 34 u is installed near thetoner outlet W in the cap part 34Y.

The toner container 32Y in the embodiment 4 is constituted similar tothat of the embodiment 3 to include the container main part 33Y (bottlebody) and the cap part 34Y (bottle cap) provided in the head end of thecontainer main part. Besides the container main part 33Y and the cappart 34Y, the toner container 32Y in the embodiment 4 is decomposed intothe stirring part 33 f, the cap seal 37, the shutter member 34 d, theshutter seal 36 as the seal member, and the RFID chip 35 as theelectronic data storage medium (see FIG. 9). Similar to that of theembodiment 3, the stirring member 33 f which is rotated with thecontainer main part 33Y in the toner container 32Y in the embodiment 4is fitted to the bottle mouth part 33 a (the opening A).

As shown in FIG. 56, one pair of tabular members 33 f 1 (which areinclined in a staggered manner) extending to the inside of the containermain part 33Y from the hollow part B of the cap part 34Y is provided inthe stirring part 33 f in the embodiment 4. The extrusion plates 33 f 10are provided at the head ends of the tabular members 33 f 1 (on the sidetoward the inside of the cap part 34Y) in the stirring part 33 f in theembodiment 4 similar to that of the embodiment 3.

Unlike the embodiment 3, with reference to FIGS. 56 and 58, a flexiblemember 34 u made of a flexible material, such as a miler about 0.188-0.5mm thick, is installed in the hollow part B from the toner drop passageC of the cap part 34Y in the embodiment 4.

As shown in FIG. 57, the flexible member 34 u is formed in the form inwhich one portion is bent, and includes the fixed part 34 u 2 (the widthof which is larger than the width of the flexible part 34 u 1) whichforms an adhesion surface of the flexible member 34 u. The flexiblemember 34 u is stuck on the wall (it is a wall of the side near thetoner outlet W, and is a wall on the side of the direction-of-rotationlower stream of the stirring part 330 of the toner drop passage C(anchoring). The fixed part 34 u 2 is stuck on the wall of the tonerdrop passage C so that the curved part of flexible member 34 u may belocated in the toner drop passage C. The flexible part 34 u 1 of theflexible member 34 u extends to the inside of the hollow part B as afree end from the toner drop passage C. Even if the toner is cloggedwith the head of the flexible part 34 u 1 contacting with rotation ofthe stirring part 33 f in the extrusion plate 33 f 10 near the toneroutlet W (the toner drop passage C), and smooth toner ejection from thetoner outlet W is allowed.

As shown in FIGS. 58A to 58D, with rotation of the stirring part 33 f,as for the extrusion plate 33 f 10, it is pressed by 10, and flexiblemember 34 u (the flexible part 34 u 1) bends in the shape of a bowgradually. The flexible member 34 u is greatly bent by the state of FIG.58D in the shape of a bow even if toner is choked up with the state ofFIG. 58A between the wall of the toner drop passage C, and flexiblemember 34 u at this time, the space of the wall of the toner droppassage C and flexible member 34 u becomes large. Bending of theflexible member 34 u serves to break down the toner got blocked in thetoner drop passage C.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 58E, in the extrusion plate 33 f 10, theflat-surface part of 10 and the flat-surface part of flexible member 34u overlap mutually, and it changes into a plane, applying flexiblemember 34 u to the flexible part 34 u 1 from the fixed part 34 u 2. Atthis time, the space of the flexible member 34 u and the toner spreadsrapidly, collapse of the toner advances, and the toner is stuffed intothe space by the extrusion plate 33 f 10 and supplied (which is in thestate of FIG. 56). Thereby, the toner ejection characteristic and thetoner collapse in the toner outlet W (the toner drop passage C) areincreased.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 58F, the flexible member 34 u will bebent backward thoroughly, and thereafter the contact with the extrusionplate 33 f 10 will be canceled. As shown in FIG. 58G, the elastic forceof the flexible member 34 u recovers the flexible member 34 u in theearly state.

At this time, the returning force of the elasticity of the flexiblemember 34 u acts on the toner, and the toner collapsing and smooth tonerejection in the toner drop passage C is allowed.

The shape of the flexible member 34 u is not limited to that of theembodiment 4, and a flexible member with another shape which does nothave a curved part and a flexible member with a fixed part 34 u 2 havinga different shape may be used instead.

The cap seal 37 in the embodiment 4 is installed between the containermain part 33Y and the cap part 34Y, and pressed in the direction whichresists the force of the mounting direction when the cap part 34Y isattached to the image forming device body 100, and the positionalrelationship of the longitudinal direction of the pressing part 34 cwhich projects on the outer circumference surface of the cap part 34Y isoptimized. Thereby, also in the embodiment 4, the attaching/detachingoperation of the toner container 34Y can be smoothly performed like eachembodiment, maintaining the high sealing characteristic of the containermain part 33Y, and cap part 34Y, without enlarging cap part 34Y.

Embodiment 5

FIGS. 59-61 are diagrams for explaining the embodiment 5 of the presentdisclosure.

The toner container in the embodiment 5 is arranged so that thecontainer main part 33Y and the cap part 34Y are held to the tonercontainer accommodating part 70 without rotation is different from thatof the foregoing embodiments in which the container main part 33Y isheld rotatably at the toner container accommodating part 70.

As shown in FIG. 59, the toner container 32Y in the embodiment 5 as wellas that of each embodiment comes out mainly with main part 33Y (bottlebody) of a container, and cap part 34Y (bottle cap) provided in thehead, and is constituted.

Here, as for the toner container 32Y in the embodiment 5, unlike that ofeach embodiment, main part 33Y (bottle body) of a container is fixed byfixing methods, such as adhesion, fusion joining, and a stop, to cappart 34Y (bottle cap).

That is, without being connected to the cap part 34Y rotatably, thecontainer main part 33Y is fixed so that it is not rotate relative tothe cap part 34Y.

As for the container main part 33Y in the embodiment 5, unlike that ofeach embodiment, the spiral projection is not formed in thecircumference.

The gear 33 c as in the foregoing embodiment is not formed in thecontainer main part 33Y, but the gear member 42Y (see FIG. 61) isrotatably held to the container main part 33Y, and the cap part 34Y withthe stirring member 33 f. The conveyance member 41Y (see FIG. 60),turning to the opening the toner contained in the inside of thecontainer main part 33Y, and conveying it is installed in the inside ofthe container main part 33Y.

The cap part 34Y can be constituted almost like that of each embodimentexcept for the point that the container main part 33Y is stuck. Thestirring member 33 f can be constituted almost like that of eachembodiment except for the point which is not being fixed to thecontainer main part 33Y.

As shown in FIG. 60, it is the direction other end side of a stretcherof the container main part 33Y (it is the opposite side on the side ofthe one direction end of a stretcher in which cap part 34Y is installed,and) also in the embodiment 5. When performing detaching operation ofthe toner container 32Y, the grip part 33 d to be gripped by the user isprovided at the end behind the mounting direction to the device bodypart 100.

The through hole which leads within and without the container main part33Y is formed in 33 d of this grip part, and the lid member 49Y isdetachably installed therein by the through hole. The lid member 49Yfills up the inside of the toner container 32Y (the container main part33Y) with toner in the time of manufacture or recycling.

As shown in FIG. 60, the thin flexible stirring member 41Yb in which theconveyance member 41Y installed in the container main part 33Y is formedin shank 41Ya with materials, such as a miler, is stuck. As for theconnection part 33 f installed in the position of the center of rotationwhose end 41Ya1 at the end side in the longitudinal direction (see FIG.61) is the stirring part 33 f, the shank 41Ya20 of the conveyance member41Y is stopped.

As for 33 d of bearings, the end on the side of the direction other endof a stretcher is supported by 1 (it is a root portion which is the grippart 33 d, and rotatably formed in the portion within the container mainpart 33Y). Where the container main part 33Y and cap part 34Y are heldby non rotation at the toner container accommodating part 70, theconveyance member 41Y which is connected with the stirring part 33 f inthe position of 20 as for the connection part 33 f will also rotatebecause the stirring part 33 f rotate with gear member 42Y in responseto driving force from actuator 91.

In this way, the toner contained in the container main part 33Y will bedelivered to the cap part 34Y side by the carrying force of the flexiblestirring member 41Yb installed in the conveyance member 41Y.

The flexible stirring member 41Yb of the conveyance member 41Y includesplural cut-out portions 41Yb1 which are formed by cutting at pluralplaces (in the embodiment 5, six places) in the longitudinal direction.The head end of the flexible stirring member 41Yb (which is the free endthereof not supported by the shank 41Ya) slides onto the innercircumference side of the container main part 33Y with the rotation ofthe conveyance member 41Y. The flexible stirring member 41Yb is rotatedand moderately twisted so that the toner contained in the container mainpart 33Y is stirred and delivered to the right side in FIG. 60.

In this way, in the toner container 32Y in the embodiment 5, the tonercan be discharged from the toner outlet W of the cap part 34Y, similarto that of the above embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 61, the gear member 42Y is pivotably attached to thecontainer main part 33Y. The gear suspending portion 42Yb formed in thegear member 42Y is engaged with the projection formed in the outercircumference surface of the bottle mouth part 33 a of the containermain part 33Y, and the gear member 42Y is held pivotably to thecontainer main part 33Y. When the geared part 42Ya (spur gear) is formedin the outer circumference surface of the gear member 42Y and the tonercontainer 32Y is set to the device body part 100. The geared part 42Yais engaged with the drive gear 81 of the device body part 100.

The sealing material 40Y is formed between the gear member 42Y and theend face of the bottle mouth part 33 a in order to prevent leakage ofthe toner to the outside of the toner container 32Y. The sealingmaterial 40Y is formed of a foamed elastic material, such as foamedpolyurethane, and has an annular configuration that matches with the endface of the bottle mouth part 33 a, and the sealing material is stuck onthe gear member 42Y.

When the gear member 42Y is set to the container main part 32Y, thesealing material 40Y is forced on the end face of the bottle mouth part33 a, and the sealing characteristic between the components 33Y and 42Yis increased. It is not fixed to the cap part 34Y, but the gear member42Y is held pivotably to the claw part 34 j of the cap part 34Y.

The holding method of the gear member 42Y to the cap part 34Y is thesame as the holding method of the cap part 34Y to the bottle mouth part33 a of the container main part 33Y described above.

The cap seal 43Y which becomes a portion on which the end face (thecontainer main part 33Y side is the end face of the opposite side) ofthe gear member 42Y is forced by the foamed elastic material is stuck onthe cap part 34Y. Thereby, the leakage of the toner from the spacebetween the gear member 42Y and the cap parts 34Y can be prevented.

The stirring member 33 f is attached to the inner diameter part of thegear member 42Y. The connection part 33 f 20 of the stirring member 33 fis connected with the shank 41Ya20 (end 41Ya1 on the side of an end) ofthe conveyance member 41Y 20.

In the embodiment 5, it is formed so that the toner drop passage C1 andC2 which are formed in cap part 34Y may be missing from the lower streamside (the toner outlet W) from the upstream side (the lower part of thecylindrical hollow part B) and passage area (passage sectional area) mayincrease gradually.

That is, compared with the passage area of the toner drop passage C1 ofthe vertical direction upper part, as shown in FIG. 61, it is set up sothat the passage area of the toner drop passage C2 of the verticaldirection lower part may become large (C1<C2).

The problem that the toner drop passage is clogged with the toner can bereduced, and smooth toner ejection from the toner outlet W is allowed.

The cap seal 37 is installed between the container main part 33Y and thecap part 34Y, pressed in the direction which resists the force of themounting direction when the cap part 34Y is attached to the imageforming device body 100, the positional relationship of the longitudinaldirection of pressing part 34 c which projects on the outercircumference surface of the cap part 34Y is optimized. Thereby, in theembodiment 5, the attaching/detaching operation of the toner container34Y can be smoothly performed, and the sealing characteristic of thecontainer main part 33Y and the cap part 34Y can be maintained at highlevel without enlarging the cap part 34Y.

As shown in FIG. 62, the toner container 32Y is constituted to includethe container main part 33Y, the gear 44Y, and the cap part 34Y. Theopening A is formed in the head of the container main part 33Y, and thegear 44Y is rotatably installed in the outer circumference part of theopening A. The gear 44Y is provided for engagement with the drive gearof the device body part 100 to rotate the coil 46Y around the rotationaxis. The opening A is formed for discharging the toner contained in thecontainer main part 33Y to the space in the cap part 34Y. The rotatingshaft 45Y is formed integrally with the gear 44Y and the spiral coil 46Y(conveyance coil) is connected with the rotating shaft 45Y. One end ofthe rotating shaft 45Y is supported by the bearing 34Ya of the cap part34Y. The coil 46Y is disposed to extend from the opening A in thecontainer main part 33Y to the bottom.

When the gear 44Y is rotated around the container main part 33Y, therotating shaft 45Y and the coil 46Y are also rotated. Hence, the tonercontained in the container main part 33Y is delivered to the side of theopening A by the toner delivering force of the coil 46Y.

The gear 44Y is inserted in the outer circumference part of the openingA so that the gear is sandwiched between the container main part 33Y andthe cap part 34Y. The rubber member 47Y is disposed between thecontainer main part 33Y and the gear 44Y at the end surface side, andthe seal member 48Y is disposed between the cap part 34Y and the gear44Y at the other end surface side.

By the composition, the sealing characteristic of the whole tonercontainer 32Y is maintained. That is, the problem that toner leaks fromthe space between the gear 44Y, the container main part 33Y, and the cappart 34Y is prevented.

Alternatively, the toner drop passage C in the embodiments 1-4 may beformed similar to the toner drop passages C1 and C2 (see FIG. 61) in theembodiment 5. In such a case, the problem that the toner drop passage Cis clogged with the toner can be reduced, and smooth toner ejection fromthe toner outlet W is allowed.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a tonercontainer and an image forming device wherein, even if another tonercontainer of a different color or kind is erroneously set to dispose theother toner container in the body of the image forming device, theproblem that toner of a different color or kind from the other tonercontainer is supplied accidentally to the image forming device body isprevented.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a tonercontainer and an image forming device wherein the shutter member thatopens or closes the toner outlet is arranged so that the shutter memberdoes not easily move when the toner container is isolated from the imageforming device, and plastic deformation of the shutter member does notarise even when the state of the shutter member that opens the toneroutlet is continued for a long time.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a tonercontainer and an image forming device wherein the attaching anddetaching operation of the toner container is smoothly performed and thesealing characteristic of the container main part and the cap part ismaintained at high level without enlarging the cap part.

The present disclosure is not limited to the specifically disclosedembodiments, and variations and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a container including a protrusion; and a receiver to receive the container, the receiver including: a first protrusion of the receiver including a first surface, contacted by the protrusion of the container during insertion of the container into the receiver, having a first slope to resist movement of the container towards the receiver, wherein the container includes: a container body to contain toner; a toner outlet to discharge the toner in the container, the toner outlet facing in a downward direction when the container is installed in the receiver; a first opening at one end of the container body; and a second opening into which a second protrusion of the receiver is insertable, wherein a leading end of the second opening is downstream of the toner outlet, relative to an insertion direction of the container, wherein the protrusion of the container is above the toner outlet.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second opening is disposed above the toner outlet.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the container includes a gear and the protrusion of the container is downstream of the gear relative to the insertion direction of the container.
 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein: the container further includes another protrusion, and the protrusion of the container and the another protrusion of the container project in mutually opposite external directions.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein: the container further includes a shutter to cover the toner outlet, and the shutter of the container includes a plate-like member.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein: the container further includes a shutter to cover the toner outlet, and the shutter includes a face to prevent opening of the shutter when the face contacts a part of a cap of the container.
 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second protrusion of the receiver includes a positioning member.
 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the container body includes a spiral groove on an outer circumference surface of the container body.
 9. A toner container that is insertable to an image forming device body, the toner container comprising: a container body to contain toner; a first opening at one end of the container body; a cap that covers the first opening of the container body; a toner outlet to discharge the toner in the container, the toner outlet facing in a downward direction when the container is installed in the image forming device body; a shutter, attached to the cap, that covers the toner outlet, the shutter being movable between a closed position to close the toner outlet and an open position to open the toner outlet; a second opening at the cap into which a second protrusion of the image forming device body is insertable; and a protrusion at a side of the cap, the protrusion protruding in a direction that is orthogonal to an insertion direction of the toner container, the image forming device including a first protrusion to contact the protrusion at the side of the cap, during insertion of the container into the image forming device, to resist insertion of the container into the image forming device, wherein the protrusion at the side of the cap is above the toner outlet, and wherein a leading end of the second opening is downstream of the toner outlet, relative to the insertion direction of the toner container.
 10. The toner container according to claim 9, wherein the protrusion at the side of the cap includes a sloping surface.
 11. The toner container according to claim 9, wherein the cap includes an electronic data storage medium to store electronic data.
 12. The toner container according to claim 11, wherein the electronic data storage medium to store the electronic data is disposed on an end surface at an end of a length of the cap perpendicular to the length of the cap.
 13. An image forming device comprising the toner container according to claim 9 within the image forming device body.
 14. The toner container according to claim 9, wherein the second opening has a circular shape.
 15. The toner container according to claim 9, wherein the container body includes a spiral groove on an outer circumference surface of the container body.
 16. The toner container according to claim 9, wherein the second opening is disposed above the toner outlet.
 17. The toner container according to claim 9, wherein the container includes a gear and the protrusion at the side of the cap is downstream of the gear relative to the insertion direction of the container.
 18. The toner container according to claim 9, wherein: the toner container further includes another protrusion at the cap, and the protrusion of the side of the cap and the another protrusion of the container project in mutually opposite external directions.
 19. The toner container according to claim 9, wherein the protrusion at the side of the cap contacts the protrusion of the image forming device body during insertion of the container into the image forming device body.
 20. The toner container according to claim 9, wherein the shutter of the container includes a plate-like member.
 21. The toner container according to claim 9, wherein the shutter of the container includes a face to prevent opening of the shutter when the face contacts a part of a cap of the container.
 22. The toner container according to claim 9, wherein the second protrusion of the image forming device body is a positioning member.
 23. A toner container that is insertable to an image forming device body, the toner container comprising: a container body to contain toner; a first opening at one end of the container body; a cap that covers the first opening of the container body; a toner outlet to discharge the toner in the container, the toner outlet facing in a downward direction when the container is installed in the image forming device body; a shutter, attached to the cap, that covers the toner outlet, the shutter being movable between a closed position to close the toner outlet and an open position to open the toner outlet; a second opening at the cap into which a second protrusion of the image forming device body is insertable; a first protrusion at a side of the cap, the first protrusion protruding in a direction that is orthogonal to an insertion direction of the toner container, the first protrusion at the side of the cap to contact a first protrusion of the image forming device body; and a second protrusion at a side of the cap, wherein a leading end of the second opening is downstream of the toner outlet, relative to the insertion direction of the toner container, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are above the toner outlet, wherein the container includes a gear and the first protrusion and the second protrusion of the container are downstream of the gear relative to the insertion direction of the container, wherein the first and second protrusions project in mutually opposite external directions, wherein the container body includes a spiral groove on an outer circumference surface of the container body.
 24. The toner container according to claim 23, wherein the shutter of the container is a plate-like member.
 25. The toner container according to claim 23, wherein the shutter includes a face to prevent opening of the shutter when the face contacts a part of a cap of the container.
 26. The toner container according to claim 23, wherein the second protrusion of the image forming device body is a positioning member.
 27. The toner container according to claim 23, wherein the cap includes an identifier which is structured depending on a color of the toner in the container body.
 28. An image forming device comprising the toner container according to claim 23 within the image forming device body. 